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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 















The Tiger’s Breath ( See page 140. 











THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO 


AND 

COLONEL THORNDIKE’S ADVENTURES 


A STORY OF BARK HUNTERS IN THE ECUADOR FORESTS, 
AND THE EXPERIENCES OF A GLOBE TROTTER 


BY 

MARLTOK I^OWNING 

AND 

HARRY W. FRENCH 


Illustrated by H. Martin Beal and 



BOSTON 
LOTHROP PUBLISHING COMPANY 
1895 





-p^l 


Copyright, 1895, 

BY 

Lothrop Publishing Company. 


All rights reserved. 


Typogbapiiy by C. J. Petkes & Son, 
Boston, U.S.A. 


CONTENTS 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 

CHAPTER PAGE 

1. The Wilds of Ecuador 7 

II. The Capture of Cutch-la-co-las 17 

III. Forwarned of Treachery 31 

IV. Preparing for Trouble 43 

V. The Mutiny 55 

VI. Quelling the Uprising 64 

VII. Rewarding Cutch-la-co-las 71 

VIII. Days in Camp 80 

IX. The Poisoned Hand 89 

X. Homeward Bound 95 


COLONEL THORNDIKE’S ADVENTURES. 

CHAPTER PAGE 

I. A Dog and a Shipwreck 109 

11. Ice-Pack, Monsoon, and Dory 124 

III. A Tiger, a Dragon, a Pirate, and a Kid- 

napper 143 

IV. A Prefect, Mule, and a Rogue Elephant . 163 










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THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


CHAPTER I. 

THE WILDS OF ECUADOR. 

rPHE snow-capped peak of Chimborazo reared 
its lofty head until the summit was lost 
in the clouds. To the westward, the river 
Guayaquil, fed by the torrents of the Cordil- 
leras, flowed rapidly down to the sea, there 
to be swallowed up by the tranquil waters of 
the vast Paciflc. 

Some two miles from the bank of the turbu- 
lent stream, and headed towards the rising 
country, a picturesque cavalcade slowly wound 
its way over a rough and tortuous path. The 
characters who made up the party were of 
many tribes and people. The South American 
7 


8 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


Indian and the native Ecuadorian predomi- 
nated, although a goodly number of Peru- 
vians were in the company. 

These latter were lighter skinned, had more 
powerful frames, showed greater neatness in 
dress, and their bearing indicated a higher 
degree of intellect, than the majority of their 
companions. 

Near the head of the procession, mounted 
upon mules, rode two men, and a boy of 
about sixteen years. 

A glance would reveal that not one of this 
trio could claim South America as his birth- 
place. 

They were unmistakably Anglo-Saxons. 

The larger, though not the elder, of the 
two men was the leader of the expedition, 
as could readily be told by the air of com- 
mand he maintained and the profound respect 
with which he was treated. 

Lawrence Ashley was an Englishman. He 
was the agent of a London firm which had 
fitted out the present expedition to search 


THE WILDS OF ECUADOR. 


9 


through the forests of Ecuador for that valu- 
able commodity known as Cinchona, or Peru- 
vian bark, from which quinine is made. 

His white companions were American sailors, 
whose vessel had been wrecked on the coast 
of Ecuador, and who had made their way to 
the city of Guayaquil. There, not so much 
from necessity as choice, they had joined the 
bark hunters, or cascarilleros as they are 
termed. 

I say, Rob, this ornery beast that I’m 
astride of is as crank as a Geordy brig in a 
gale of wind. She’ll not mind her helm, but 
just keeps ploughing along in the wake of 
that Dago ahead.” 

^^If you take my advice, my friend,” inter- 
rupted Mr. Ashley, you’ll allow the animal 
to continue to do so; for before we have 
crossed the mountains you will see that these 
little brutes know more of the dangerous paths 
which they have to tread than do their riders.” 

^^That may be so, sir,” returned the sailor 
with an expression of disgust; ^^but I don’t 


10 


THE YOUNG CASCAKILLERO. 


see why you put a man in charge of a dumb 
critter or a floating ship, if he hasn’t got the 
power to control them.” 

The leader smiled at this outburst; but the 
boy Eobert laughingly remarked, — 

^^0 Tom, you’ll get used to the mules 
before long; I will admit though that they 
do not ride as easy as a lady’s palfrey.” 

I don’t know what you mean by a palfrey ; 
but if it’s anything more uncomfortable to 
sit on than the back of this chap is, I prefer 
to go afoot;” and Tom moved uneasily in his 
rude saddle. 

The action of the sailor, as well as his re- 
marks, which, albeit they were in English, 
were understood by most of the party, called 
forth expressions of extreme contempt from 
the natives who rode nearest to him ; but a 
sharp look from the leader effectually checked 
further demonstration. 

Mr. Ashley, however, began to feel a little 
uneasy; for this had not been the first time 
that his dusky followers had evinced dis- 


THE WILDS OF ECUADOR. 


11 


pleasure at the presence of their white com- 
panions. 

^^They look upon the sailor and the boy as 
interlopers/’ he thought; ^^and I fear that 
unless a strict watch is maintained upon their 
movements, they will endeavor to do my asso- 
ciates some bodily harm. But perhaps I am 
borrowing trouble needlessly. We will wait 
and see.” 

The progress of the company was naturally 
slow, as by far the majority of the number were 
on foot, and the path had become steep and 
rugged ; consequently, when night fell, they 
had by no means reached the highest altitude 
of their journey. 

They halted in a little mountain village, when 
Mr. Ashley at once sought out the alcalde, or 
chief magistrate. He sought to obtain permis- 
sion to remain in the town until morning. He 
also wished to secure his co-operation in pro- 
curing men with whom to continue the expe- 
dition; for a large number of those who had 
been employed on the coast to make this sec- 


12 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


tion of the journey refused to go farther, fear- 
ing to meet the fierce tribes who inhabited the 
eastern slope of the mountains and the valleys 
beyond. 

The mules could only be utilized to trans- 
port the supplies for another day, when their 
burdens must be transferred to the backs of 
natives ; and it was these strong, athletic half- 
breeds that the experienced leader wished to 
obtain. 

There was little difficulty in securing the ser- 
vices of a sufficient number of bearers, for the 
Englishman had the means to pay them well ; 
so that on the morrow when the cavalcade 
started there were many strange faces in the 
party. 

Six professional cascarilleros and an equal 
number of guides, who had been engaged in 
Guayaquil, still remained; and it was some of 
these former who diffused the leaven of discord 
which later on nearly proved fatal to the en- 
terprise. 

The start was made early, but no persuasion 


THE WILDS OF ECUADOR. 


13 


of Mr. Ashley or Robert could induce Tom to 
again trust himself in the saddle. 

No, sir,” he declared; I feel safer walking 
on the feet that were given to me when I was 
born, than to rely upon four legs that any min- 
ute might fly up in the air and chuck me head- 
long over the clifls. Don't be afear d, Mr. 
Ashley, I’ll keep up with the fleet; and if it 
should be that I drop a little astarn, I can easy 
enough follow in your wake, — that is, if these 
niggers don’t have cruisers around that will cut 
a fellow ofl when he’s parted with his consort.” 

That is just what I am afraid of,” replied 
Mr. Ashley. ^^We are entering a wild coun- 
try, and our safety depends upon keeping 
together.” 

Don’t be afear’d, Cap’n. Don’t be afear’d. 
Rely upon it, that Tom Bowlin will keep close 
in under the guns of the flag-ship.” 

So they proceeded, part of the guides and 
cascarilleros in the lead, and the remainder with 
the white men bringing up the rear, to prevent 
the bearers, who are arrant rogues, from desert- 


14 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


ing with their valuable burdens, or the animals 
in their charge. 

All that day Tom trudged along on foot ; and 
the following day his companions had to do 
likewise, for they had reached the spot where 
they were to abandon the mules. The expedi- 
tion had now arrived in a section of the coun- 
try where bark might be found. 

They had crossed over the mountains, and, 
descending, reached a luxuriant growth of vege- 
tation which could be seen extending before 
them in an unbroken stretch for miles and 
miles. 

Still, the guides pushed steadily on, deeper 
and deeper into the wilderness, until, as night 
approached, Mr. Ashley called for a permanent 
halt, as this was to be the rendezvous and 
store-station from which the hunters were 
to radiate in search of bark. 

For several days everybody was kept busy 
in building a large and substantial house of 
poles, with the roof thatched with long reeds, 
which were found growing in great profusion 


THE WILDS OF ECUADOK. 


15 


on the banks of a stream about a mile distant. 

Robert was anxious to accompany the hunters 
into the woods, but Mr. Ashley would not per- 
mit him. No, no, my boy, not yet,” he said. 

Perhaps when you become more familiar with 
this wilderness you may go, but not now. At 
present 1 wish you and Tom to keep watch 
over our stores ; for there is not one of these 
chaps that I would trust, save the guides. 
They are passably honest, for it is to their 
advantage to be so ; but the cascarilleros and 
bearers would willingly rob us of everything 
we possess and leave us here to starve, while 
they laughed at our sad plight.” 

Nevertheless, the boy, with the wilfulness 
of youth, strolled away into the woods. He 
had caught sight of a gaudily plumaged bird, 
and, with gun in hand, sought to secure it. 

Robert had not gone more than a hundred 
yards from camp when a favorable shot pre- 
sented itself ; but just as he was bringing the 
piece to his shoulder, he felt a sharp, stinging 
pain in his left arm. 


16 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


Glancing quickly at the member, his dismay 
may be imagined at beholding the shaft of a 
tiny dart protruding from his shirt-sleeve, and 
the same instant he caught sight of a dusky 
form crouching in the underbrush. 

Quick to act, the hoy levelled his weapon 
at the would-be assassin and fired. At the 
report of the piece, an Indian sprang to his 
feet and darted away. 

Then Eobert’s brain began to whirl, his 
vision dimmed, and he felt himself staggering 
to the earth, when he was caught in a pair 
of strong arms, and he heard the voice of 
Mr. Ashley as if afar ofi, saying, — 

^^Boy, boy, what has happened?’’ 

The lad tried to articulate, but could not ; 
instead, he relapsed into unconsciousness, so 
subtle and quick to act had been the poison 
upon the dart of the savage. 


THE CAPTURE OF CUTCH-LA-CO-LAS. 17 


CHAPTER II. 

THE CAPTURE OF CUTCH-LA-CO-LAS. 

W HEN Mr. Ashley caught Robert in his 
armSj Tom Bowlin was close at his side, 
and having obtained sight of the fleeing savage, 
he sprang forward in pursuit, but he was 
quickly checked by a call from the leader. 

Stay, man ! would you rush to your death ? 
That Indian will lead you into an ambush 
before you have travelled a dozen rods.’’ 

But, Cap’n, he’s killed my young shipmate, 
and I would just like to get my hands on the 
beggar.” 

No, Tom, the boy is not dead, although 
the intention of his assailant was to that end. 
I can fetch him around all right, but we must 
hurry with him to the camp.” 

^^Then let me carry him, sir,” said the 


18 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLEKO. 


kind-hearted sailor. The little chap will be 
as light in my arms as an infant.” And 
Tom, lifting the inanimate form with a tender- 
ness scarcely to be expected from the rough, 
uncouth mariner, bore his burden to the hut. 

Mr. Ashley cut open the sleeve of the lad’s 
shirt and laid bare the tiny wound made by 
the dart. Without an instant’s hesitation, 
the Englishman placed his lips upon the arm 
and began to draw forth what remained of 
the subtle poison. After the blood began to 
flow freely, he desisted, and then instructing 
Tom to open Kobert’s mouth, he procured a 
quantity of common table salt, and placed 
what might be a large spoonful upon the 
boy’s tongue. 

^^What, Cap’n, do you want to kill the 
lad ? ” exclaimed the old sailor in consterna- 
tion. That’s enough to strangle a man.” 

Oh, no,” replied the leader, I am familiar 
with these wounds, and well know that salt in 
large doses is the surest antidote. Now a 
little water, and we’ll see if he can swallow.” 


THE CAPTURE OF CUTCH-LA-CO-LAS. 19 

Tom, prompt to obey, procured a pannikin 
and rushing out of the house, filled the tin cup 
at a neighboring spring. Then returning with 
it to the side of his young friend, he poured a 
little between his pallid lips. 

Both of the white men were overjoyed to 
see the throat of the sufferer move slightly. 

Ah, he’s all right now, ” observed Mr. 
Ashley. Some more salt, and we’ll have 
him return to consciousness very soon.” 

Then them things that the Indians shoot 
aren’t sure death, are they, Cap’n?” asked 
Tom. 

No, indeed. They are not actually poison- 
ous ; but the material in which the points of the 
arrows are steeped possesses the property of 
producing a profound stupor, and an almost 
instantaneous paralysis of the entire system. 
In some cases the sudden action upon the heart 
will cause death, but such occurrences are rare. 
It is with these same darts that the Indian pro- 
cures his food, and of course it would not do to 
poison the game.” 


20 


THE YOUNG CASCAKILLERO. 


How do they fire the things ? ” inquired 
Tom, picking up the arrow which had struck 
his friend. They aren’t bigger than a school- 
boy’s pencil.” 

Mr. Ashley smiled as he replied, They blow 
them.” 

The expression on Tom’s face as he gazed at 
his companion plainly indicated that he felt he 
was being made the subject of a jest. 

I am not joking,” the Englishman hastened 
to add. ^^They blow these darts through reeds 
which vary in length from six to ten feet. The 
best of these singular guns are made by the 
natives from strips of wood grooved on the in- 
side and firmly bound together.” 

As Mr. Ashley finished speaking, a great 
uproar was heard without. This had the effect 
of arousing Eobert from his stupor, and he 
opened his eyes to find his two friends bending 
anxiously over him. Before he could utter a 
word, the doorway of the hut was darkened, and 
two of the guides entered, dragging between 
them an Indian whose naked body was bleeding 
from several wounds. 


THE CAPTURE OF CUTCH-LA-CO-LAS. 21 

whom have we here, Manuel ?” asked 
Mr. Ashley of one of the men. 

Him that shot the boy, sehor. We find him 
where he fall, very tired.” 

Is he badly hurt ? ” 

No, but plenty bleed make him tired.” 

The kind-hearted Englishman, knowing that 
Robert was rapidly recovering, turned his atten- 
tion to the native, and saw that the miserable 
creature’s side and back were riddled with shot. 
The prisoner was trembling in every limb, as 
much from fright as pain and exhaustion. He 
fell upon his face at the feet of Mr. Ashley, 
and, in his own language, begged piteously for 
mercy. 

Manuel, who could understand the fellow, 
spoke to the leader, Him say, s’ pose you no 
kill him, he be good man.” 

Tell him we will decide what is to be done 
with him later on. At present humanity obliges 
us to look to his wounds.” 

It was a tedious and delicate operation which 
the chief had before him. For he attempted to 


22 


THE YOUNG CASCAEILLEEO. 


pick out, one by one, the numerous tiny leaden 
pellets which were imbedded, though not very 
deeply, in the Indian’s flesh. The native bore 
the operation with the stoical fortitude peculiar 
to his race ; yet several exclamations which 
escaped his lips — and were translated by Man- 
uel — revealed that he felt he was undergoing 
a certain kind of punishment at the hands of 
the white man. 

When the impromptu surgeon applied a cool- 
ing lotion to the laceration, and swathed the 
left arm and a portion of the body in bandages, 
the savage seemed greatly surprised. Appar- 
ently he realized for the first time that death 
from torture was not intended by his captors; 
an expression of gratitude replaced the sullen 
and evil looks which had previously settled 
upon his swarthy features. 

While Mr. Ashley was busied with the In- 
dian, Eobert was slowly recovering from the 
first results of the poison which had so rapidly 
diffused itself through every vein and artery in 
his body; but before long a drowsiness stole 


THE CAPTURE OF CUT CH-LA-C 0-LAS. 23 

over his senses, and the boy dropped into a pro- 
found yet quiet slumber. 

^^Is that just right, Cap’n?” asked Tom, 
with apprehension in his tone, as he pointed to 
his young friend. “ It don’t look . nateral to 
me.” 

There is nothing to fear,” said Mr. Ashley. 

It is the lingering effects of the powerful nar- 
cotic ; when he awakes the lad will be himself 
again.” 

Thus reassured, the sailor took from Manuel’s 
hand the weapon which had discharged the 
shaft that wounded Robert. It was very light, 
about eight feet in length, with a bore that 
might allow a pea to roll through it. 

Manuel observed the look of surprise, al- 
most of contempt, which the mariner bestowed 
upon the singular gun ; and reaching forward he 
regained possession of the tube, saying, Him 
plenty bad ; see ! ” 

Then, without asking permission, the guide 
extracted a tiny arrow from a quiver which the 
Indian wore ingeniously plaited into his long 


24 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


black hair, and inserted it into the weapon. 
Stepping to the door, and taking aim at a buz- 
zard that had alighted on the limb of a de- 
cayed tree near by, Manuel blew a quick blast. 
There was a slight sound, and the bird unfolded 
its strong wings and took to flight. 

Ha, ha, Manuel ! you’d go hungry if you 
had to depend on that thing to get your grub 
with,” laughed Tom. 

^^No, no; look; him fall!” And the guide 
pointed triumphantly to the buzzard, which was 
fluttering and beating its pinions in the vain en- 
deavor to sustain itself in air. Soon its strug- 
gles ceased altogether, and it fell to the ground 
like a stone. 

Live and learn ! Live and learn ! ” muttered 
the sailor, slowly shaking his head. When I 
was a boy I used to have something like that 
to bother the schoolmaster with, but I never 
expected to see one that would bring down a 
living creature at a cable’ s-length distance.” 

Before sunset Eobert awoke and left his 
bunk. Although his arm was a little tender, 


The guide 


pointed 


triumphantly to 


the buzzard 









THE CAPTUEE OF CUTCH-LA-CO-LAS. 27 

and he felt somewhat shaky on his feet, yet 
he experienced no other inconvenience from 
the recent encounter with the savage. The 
captive Indian had been held a close pris- 
oner, as Mr. Ashley wished to question him 
regarding the proximity of his tribe. 

After supper had been despatched, Manuel 
was called into the hut. 

^^Ask him where his people are,’’ said Mr. 
Ashley to the guide, as he pointed to the In- 
dian ; and impress upon his mind that if he 
deceives us he shall not live to see the light 
of another day. Also assure him that I have 
plenty of men about me who are familiar 
with the wilds, and shall despatch them into 
the forest to verify his statement.” 

The interpreter made known the request of 
the leader, and the prisoner promptly answered. 
Although his words were intelligible only to 
Manuel, yet even the boy Eobert comprehended 
his meaning by the gestures which accompa- 
nied his speech. 

Holding up two fingers, the savage pointed 


28 


THE YOUXG CASCARILLERO. 


proudly to his blow-gun that was leaning against 
the wall, then taking a few short steps forward, 
he assumed a haughty and dignified bearing 
which indicated that there were two warriors. 

Next his demeanor changed, his tall form 
seemed to shrink within itself, his gait became 
hesitating, his face took on an expression of 
fear and alarm, and he waved both hands about 
his lower limbs and again held up two fingers, 
to denote that two of the number were of the 
weaker sex and wore skirts. 

He tells us there are but four, two men 
and — two women,” said the leader. “ Am I 
right, Manuel ? ” 

Si, si, senor. And he says that his party 
were only a short distance away when we 
captured him, and they are now perhaps near 
by, waiting to see what we are going to do 
with him.” 

Can we believe him ? ” 

He tell no lie, senor.” 

That is good. We shall knovr how to act. 
Our force is so strong that I have little fear 


THE CAPTURE OF CUTCH-LA-CO-LAS. 29 

of the wild men, yet if we gain their ill-will 
they will be able to greatly harass our move- 
ments. Tell him that he is free. And here,” 
continued Mr. Ashley, taking from an open 
case a piece of gaudy-hued calico ten yards 
or so in length, ^^give him this as a token 
of friendship.” 

When Manuel transferred the cloth from the 
hand of the leader to that of the savage, the 
face of the latter lighted up with an expression 
of joy and surprise. Quickly folding it, the 
Indian walked to the doorway, where he paused. 

‘^Why does he halt?” asked Mr. Ashley. 

What does he want ? ” 

I think I understand, sir,” broke in Robert, 
who had been an interested spectator. It 
is this ; may I give it to him ? ” and the lad 
lifted the light yet formidable blow-gun.” 

Yes, let him have it ; for it would certainly 
be cruel to turn an Indian adrift in the w’oods 
without the means of defending himself from 
the attack of an enemy, or providing him- 
self with food.” 


30 


THE YOUNG CASCAEILLEKO. 


When the released prisoner received the 
weapon from the boy he seemed greatly 
pleased. Gently laying his right hand upon 
the bandaged arm of Robert, he muttered a 
few words, then placing his bronzed palm upon 
his bare chest he uttered a loud, long yell, 
and bounding away, disappeared in the gloom 
of the forest. 

When the savage was gone, Manuel observed. 
White boy now Indian’s friend. Indian, him 
fader. He now not be afraid.” 


FOKEWARNED OF TREACHERY. 


31 


CHAPTER HI. 

FOREWARNED OF TREACHERY. 

F our weeks passed by after the little episode 
with the Indian, and nothing startling or 
unusual occurred in the camp of the casca- 
rilleros. That is, nothing which made itself 
apparent to the three white members of the ex- 
pedition, or to Manuel and his brother guides 
who, as has been stated, were loyal to their 
employer. 

But the leaven of discord had been slowly, 
though surely, working among the hunters and 
their more plebeian associates, the bearers. A 
goodly quantity of bark had been gathered 
and dried, and the ultimate result of the enter- 
prise seemed most promising. 

Upon Robert and the sailor devolved the 
duty of curing ’’ the cinchona, and packing 


32 THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 

it into bunches or bales of forty pounds each. 
This was the weight for one man to carry 
upon his shoulders on their return over the 
mountains. Neither the boy nor Tom had 
been allowed to stray far from the store-house, 
for Mr. Ashley still maintained just fears for 
their personal safety. The dark looks cast 
upon them from time to time by their dusky 
companions had not wholly escaped the keen 
eyes of the leader. 

One day, when the six cascarilleros and most 
of the bearers were away on a hunt which 
was to cover nearly a week, Kobert obtained 
permission to make a little expedition into 
the woods; and armed with his rifle, and with 
the faithful Manuel for company, the lad 
strolled away. 

There was little game to gladden the heart 
of the sportsman ; but the novelty of the situa- 
tion pleased the boy well, and he plunged on 
deeper and deeper into the forest. 

At length the two, who were now firm 
friends, came out upon the bank of a little 


FOREWARNED OF TREACHERY. 


33 


stream, where, after slaking their thirst, Eobert 
sat down to rest ; but Manuel strode on farther 
to examine a tree, which he had seen in the 
distance, in the hope that it might be a cin- 
chona bearer. 

^^You stay here. Don’t go away. I come 
back soon,” were the guide’s instructions as 
he disappeared. 

Some little time passed and Eobert began 
to grow restless, fearing that an accident might 
have befallen his companion. He was about to 
venture in search of him when a slight rus- 
tling in the underbrush attracted his attention. 
Turning quickly, the boy peered into the thicket, 
but could see nothing. 

Some living creature must have made that 
noise,” he thought. I wonder what it could 
be ? However, I am prepared ; ” and Eobert 
rose to his feet, turned his back to the stream, 
and stood holding his weapon ready for instant 
use. 

For a moment, perhaps, the lad remained thus 
silent; then the unmistakable sound of foot- 
steps was heard approaching. 


34 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


there’s Manuel now, and the noise 
in the brush must have been caused by some 
tiny animal hurrying to cover his hole.” 
Scarcely had these thoughts chased each other 
through Eobert’s mind, when the sharp crack 
of a rifle echoed amid the trees of the forest, 
while an unearthly yell sounded from the 
branches overhead, as a large, tawny-skinned 
animal came darting from aloft and struck 
the ground within ten feet of where the boy 
stood. 

A glance told Eobert that he was face to 
face with a puma, or South American panther. 
The creature was not dead by any means, but 
for a moment lay rolling and snapping at a 
wound in its shoulder, then catching sight 
of the boy, it crouched ready to make the 
fatal spring. 

So terrified at the sudden and unexpected 
peril was Eobert, that the trusty weapon 
which he clutched tightly in his hand was 
as useless as one of the waving reeds that 
grew by the banks of the flowing stream. 


FOKEWARNED OF TREACHERY. 


35 


Manuel ! Manuel ! ’’ lie called in despair 
as he saw the animal leave the ground; un- 
consciously he closed his eyes, and that same 
instant he was borne to the earth, while he 
felt himself beneath a heavy and struggling 
weight. But quickly was the pressure upon 
his body relieved, and a second report rever- 
berated through the forest. 

With rapidly returning courage the lad 
opened his eyes and glanced about. There, 
close beside him, lay the panther writhing in 
its death agony, clawing and snapping at the 
grass and shrubs ; at a little distance stood 
Manuel, still holding the smoking rifle ; and 
near the guide was a sparsely clad Indian 
whose right hand grasped a long-bladed knife, 
while from every pore of his dusky body blood 
seemed to be flowing. 

Boy hurt ? ” asked Manuel with great 
anxiety, as he lifted the little fellow to his 
feet. 

No, no ; but how did it all happen ? ” 

Me coming back, see puma ready to jump. 


36 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


Me fire, lie fall. Then see Injun come out of 
woods and cut with knife so, and so, and so,’' 
and the guide indicated the action of the na- 
tive. Then me get another chance, shoot 
again. Now panther dead.” 

Who is the brave Indian ? ” asked Robert. 

Don’t you know him ? Him fellow with 
blow-gun.” 

So it was. 

See, he is wounded ! ” exclaimed the boy. 
^^The sharp claws of the fierce animal have 
torn his flesh badly. We must assist him.” 

Oh, he take care hisself,” returned Manuel, 
not unkindly. See, he know what to do.” 

For the Indian had already stepped into the 
water, and was bathing the lacerations upon his 
arms and chest. He was not injured so se- 
riously as would be supposed after passing 
through a struggle with such a fierce and re- 
lentless opponent. The wounds were many, 
but not deep ; for the puma had aimed his at- 
tack at the white boy, and not at the native. 

When Robert found that his brave rescuer 


There, close beside him, lay the panther. 





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FOREWARNED OF TREACHERY. 


39 


was in no danger, his curiosity as to what had 
brought him into that neighborhood was 
aroused. 

^^Ask him, Manuel, by what good fortune he 
chanced to be here so opportunely ? ” 

‘^Him already say. He wants talk with 
Senor Ashley.” 

What can it be ? Perhaps he can show us 
where there is a good growth of bark.” 

This question the guide propounded ; but the 
Indian shook his head, and reiterated his desire 
to have speech with the white chief.” 

Then take him at once to the camp,” said 
the boy, moving in that direction. 

^^No. He say he not go there. Want to 
talk with him in the woods. Afraid to meet 
bearers and cascarilleros.” 

“ But there are none at the store-house now, 
you know. Tell him that.” 

When Manuel translated Robert’s speech, the 
Indian’s only answer was to spring lightly for- 
ward, leading the way in the direction of the 
rude buildings. Like a serpent the native 


40 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


glided through the forest, and so swiftly that 
it was only with difficulty that the boy and 
Manuel could keep pace with him. 

Upon reaching the edge of the clearing, the 
dusky leader of the little party halted and 
peered earnestly about ; but there was nothing 
to excite alarm. Mr. Ashley was the only one 
in sight ; and he was seated in the doorway of 
the cabin, deeply engrossed in a book. 

The Indian, apparently satisfied that all was 
right, stepped aside, and motioned for Kobert 
and Manuel to advance, which they did, he fol- 
lowing close behind them. 

The sound of footsteps caused the English- 
man to look up quickly ; and when he saw who 
it was that was drawing near, he arose and 
came forward to meet them. When his gaze 
fell upon the native he paused, and cast an 
inquiring look at Manuel. 

Cutch-la-co-las has come to have talk with 
Seiior Ashley,” answered the guide, calling the 
Indian by name. 

Ah, indeed ! What can it be ? ” asked the 


FOREWARNED OF TREACHERY. 41 

leader in Spanish. Does he want presents 
for his women and warriors ? ” 

No, sehor ! ’’ replied the native quickly, 
while he drew up his lithe form with conscious 
pride. 

Oh ! You speak Spanish ? ” inquired Mr. 
Ashley in some surprise. 

Me speak little sometimes, senor.’’ 

Then, why did you not use that language 
when you were our prisoner, and your life in 
danger ? ” 

‘^When Cutch-la-co-las think him going to 
die, him forget white man’s tongue and re- 
member only his own.” 

Mr. Ashley smiled at this naive confession, 
and could not help admitting to himself the 
force of the native’s assertion. But without 
pursuing the subject further the leader said 
gravely, — 

^‘Now that you are here, what is it that 
you have to tell me ? ” 

Thus questioned, the Indian cast a hurried 
glance around, then laying a finger of his right 


42 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


hand impressively on the shoulder of the white 
man, he began in a low voice, — 

One sun passed, Cutch-la-co-las was lying 
in the woods, and he hear the people of the 
white senor talk plenty. The words made the 
ear of the Indian ache, and his heart very 
sick ; for he loves the great chief, and the 
boy,” casting a look at Robert who stood 
anxiously near by. 

^^What do you mean? What did they 
say ? ” questioned Mr. Ashley eagerly. 


PREPARING FOR TROUBLE. 


43 


CHAPTER IV. 

PREPARING FOR TROUBLE. 

npHE cascarilleros are bad, plenty bad ! ” 
answered Cutch-la-co-las. They say, 
when they come to camp they kill the white 
men, they kill the boy, they kill Manuel. Then 
they take the chief’s guns, take his stores, 
take his cloth, his beads, his powder, and his 
bark — make um rich, they say. Then they 
go far, far away, across the Cordilleras ! ” 
Great heavens ! Is it possible ? ” exclaimed 
Mr. Ashley. Yet the knaves are capable of 
such a crime ! Nevertheless, my dusky friend, 
now that you have forewarned us, the villains 
will meet with a warm reception.” 

‘^But the white chief and his friends are 
weak ; the cascarilleros and the slaves are 
strong. Listen to what Cutch-la-co-las will do ! ” 


44 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


What ? ’’ 

He will bring his warriors, as many as there 
are leaves on the cinchona trees, and they shall 
lie hid upon the ground. Then, when the bad 
cascarilleros say ^ Strike,’ the voice of Cutch-la- 
co-las will be heard, and the lives of the white 
men shall be saved.” 

Will you do this for strangers?” asked the 
Englishman, much affected by the native’s pro- 
posal. ^‘Your reward shall be great.” 

Cutch-la-co-las has not asked for presents. 
When he does he knows that the white man 
will give. 

Listen, when the moon shall come, the 
woods shall be full of Indians, but the casca- 
rilleros will not see them until the voice of their 
chief calls them to battle. I go ! Adios, senor ! ” 
And the noble savage wheeled abruptly, and 
darted swiftly away into the forest. 

After the Indian had left, Mr. Ashley turned 
to his companions and asked, — 

What think you of this information ?” 

Is it serious, sir ? ” eagerly inquired Robert, 


PREPARING FOR TROUBLE. 


45 


wliose knowledge of Spanish was as yet quite 
meagre. 

So much so, my boy, that it affects our 
lives and property. But, Manuel, how do you 
regard the Indian’s honesty in this affair?” 

He speak truth, sehor ; for I hear little 
whisper, and was keep watch. S’pose you let 
Cutch-la-co-las kill the cascarilleros, then what 
we do ? Don’t get bark, don’t get man to 
carry bundle. No, sehor, let Indian help catch 
bad man, then give um plenty of the lash, 
make um good.” 

Part of your advice is excellent,” returned 
Mr. Ashley a little amused. It shall be fol- 
lowed; but I draw the line at flogging, for I 
never yet knew a man to hold kindly feelings 
toward another who had subjected him to 
such punishment. Come, we have work before 
us to prepare for the coming crisis. We must 
remove everything of value to our own habi- 
tation, and look to our weapons, for we may 
be obliged to stand a siege.” 

When the three entered the hut they found 


46 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


sailor Tom smoking, and hard at work netting 
a hammock from strong cord which some of the 
bearers had laid up ” of long, tough grass 
which grew in profusion in the marshy 
districts. 

Put that aside, my man,” said Mr. Ashley. 
^^We are threatened with an attack from our 
people, led by the treacherous cascarilleros, and 
must prepare to meet it.” 

‘^What’s that you say, Cap’n? Going to 
pipe to quarters ? Now, if we don’t make them 
Dagos wish they’d changed their minds afore 
they were born, it’s because powder won’t burn 
and steel won’t cut. Just tell me where’s my 
station, and when ye order, ^ Boarders, away ! ’ 
if Tom Bowlin ain’t the first to step his foot 
on the enemy’s deck, it’ll be because he’s laid 
out on his own.” 

Ah, Tom, if I had a dozen such fellows as 
you and Robert here to rely upon, I would not 
fear to meet a hundred cowardly cascarilleros.” 

Don’t mention it, Cap’n ! The smaller the 
crew, the more glory, as I said when our first 
cutter captured a line-of-battle ship.” 


PREPARING FOR TROUBLE. 


47 


The white men worked carefully in strength- 
ening their rude habitation, so as not to excite 
any suspicion in the minds of the few bearers 
who had been left in camp. But when the sun 
set, the Europeans found themselves behind four 
walls that would withstand quite a vigorous 
assault. 

Our friends lighted their fire before the door- 
way as usual, and prepared supper as though 
nothing was likely to occur that would disturb 
their serenity. 

But the sense of danger was on them ; and 
Mr. Ashley said, We are ready for them, but 
I feel a good deal as the cobra must whom I 
once saw treed in India.” 

How was that, Mr. Ashley?” Robert re- 
marked. 

Well, I’ll tell you,” Mr. Ashley rejoiifed, 
or rather, I will tell you how the cobra was 
captured. It will help to pass our time;” and 
settling himself for his tale, Mr. Ashley be- 
gan, — 

It was the afternoon before Christmas,” he 


48 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


said, and several American sea-captains whose 
vessels were lying at anchor in the port of 
Bombay, India, arrived at the conclusion that 
they could not spend the coming day with more 
pleasure than to visit the renowned cave tem- 
ples on the Island of Elephanta. 

^^Accordingly the next morning the gentle- 
men met on the deck of a wealthy Parsee ship- 
broker’s yacht to enjoy the lovely sail of some 
twelve miles. 

I was the only European of the party who 
had ever been ashore on the spot so revered 
by the natives of that district ; nevertheless, I 
anticipated fully as delightful an excursion as 
did any of my companions. 

We were favored with a brisk breeze; yet 
nearly two hours were occupied in covering the 
distance which intervened between the city and 
the island, where, as soon as the anchor was 
dropped, the first disagreeable portion of the 
journey was encountered. 

^ The water about the shore was too shallow 
to admit of the yacht’s approaching nearer than 


PREPAEING FOR TROUBLE. 


49 


fifty yards, consequently that space had to be 
traversed in a canoe. Even when this light 
craft refused to float there still remained about 
sixty feet of soft black mud to be gotten over; 
and this was done upon the backs of coolies, 
we austere mariners presenting anything but 
a dignified aspect in the transit, and we con- 
gratulated ourselves that none of our sailors 
were present to witness the ludicrous situation. 

When once on terra firma we indulged in a 
hearty laugh at each other, and then began the 
ascent of the hundred stone steps which led to 
the plateau in front of the principal temple. 

^^The description of the wonderful cave of the 
elephants has been frequently given, and so great 
a sailor as Tom must have seen or heard of it.’' 

Yes, sir. I’ve seen it,” said Tom. 

I will not, therefore, attempt a description,’*’ 
said Mr. Ashley, but will pass on to an inci- 
dent which struck me with astonishment not 
unmingled with horror and alarm. 

^^We had just completed lunch, during the 
enjoyment of which we had been greatly enter- 


50 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


tained with the recital of several stories by an 
old English sergeant who was in charge of the 
place. 

^ Gentlemen/ observed the soldier, as he 
rose from the stone on which he had been 
seated cross-legged, ^ if you don’t think it’s too 
hot outside, I’d like you to come with me and 
see some fun.’ 

^ What is it ? ’ we asked. 

Just before you invited me to join you at 
that excellent tiffin, one of these black fellows ’ 
(waving his hand toward a group of natives 
who stood by) ‘ informed me that he had treed, 
or rather holed, a cobra. He says, too, that his 
brother, a regular snake-charmer, is coming in 
a little while to secure the reptile. I told the 
chap to wait until we had finished eating so 
that we might witness the sport.’ 

^ Will not the undertaking be fraught with 
considerable danger ? ’ asked one of our party. 

^ It might be to either you or me. Captain, 
but I think not to the cooly. Then if he 
should get a nip he’d die happy, for they rev- 


PREPARING FOR TROUBLE. 


51 


erence tlie cobra almost as a deity. What say 
you, shall we go ? ’ 

Of course we all assented, for this was too 
novel a sight to be allowed to escape our notice ; 
so we followed the Englishman and the little 
band of Hindus out of the cave, and through a 
narrow path in the jungle, until we came to a 
small opening where the ground was covered 
with broken and jagged rocks. 

Here we saw a man standing with one bare 
foot resting upon a small flat stone, as though 
his whole duty was to keep the slab in its place. 
Beside him sat another cooly, who as we ap- 
proached was busily engaged in wrapping a 
piece of red flannel about the end of a long 
bamboo stick. 

^ Watch, sahib. Bimeby see snake!’ said 
the latter individual in broken English. 

When he had secured the cloth, he motioned 
to his companion to stand aside. No sooner 
had the man stepped back, than the stone was 
seen to move; and suddenly, as though from 
beneath it, protruded the head of a cobra. 


52 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


^ The snake is not sure of his ground, else 
he would have darted out like a flash,' re- 
marked the sergeant. 

Their gaze was bent upon the man with the 
bamboo. As soon as the reptile appeared, the 
flannel was placed within six inches of its 
glittering, bead-like eyes. The venomous crea- 
ture, catching sight of the cloth, seemed to 
consider it an enemy ; for the neck or gills 
swelled, the head flattened, the lower jaw 
dropped, allowing us an instantaneous glimpse 
of the deadly fangs ere they buried them- 
selves in the thick wad of woollen. 

^^If it had been the intention of his snake- 
ship to emerge entirely from the hole and 
^ continue the battle on deck,’ as one of the 
captains afterwards phrased it, he was frus- 
trated in his design ; for the native repeatedly 
thrust the flannel toward him, and each time 
the cobra bit at it fiercely. 

^ That’s to draw out the poison,’ declared 
the sergeant. ^ Now watch the Hindu.’ 

In a moment or two the fellow handed the 


PKEPARING FOR TROUBLE. 


53 


bamboo to his brother, and taking the cotton 
cloth from about his loins, wrapped it around 
his right arm. Then motioning to his assist- 
ant to step farther back, he waited until the 
now nearly exhausted reptile began to again 
wriggle out of his hole to follow up the attack, 
when springing forward, the native grasped the 
serpent just back of the head, and drawing it 
forth, held it aloft, allowing it to coil itself 
about his wrist and arm. 

^ The snake is as harmless as a dove now,’ 
observed the sergeant. ^ He could not bite the 
cooly anyway. If his fangs should chance 
to scratch the man’s flesh, it would only cause 
a sore, and not have a fatal result ; but there’s 
poison enough in that flannel on the stick to 
kill a whole platoon of dragoons.’ 

^ What will the fellow do with the cobra 
now that he has got it?’ I asked. 

^ You may see him exhibit it down aboard 
your ship next Sunday,’ was the reply, with a 
laugh. 

^ Is he, then, one of those snake-charmers 


54 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


of whom we encounter so many in the city ? ’ 
inquired another of the party. 

^ Yes, one of the best ; and now that he 
has shown 3^ou how he collects the pets with 
which he performs, he’ll soon be asking for 
baksheesh. But don’t give the fellow more 
than three or four anas [ana is 3 cents], or he 
will be getting too high notions.’ 

^^We did not, however, take the sergeant’s 
well-meant advice ; for we thought that two 
rupees were none too much to compensate the 
Hindu for his daring exploit, and to reward 
him for the pleasure which he had bestowed 
upon us that Christmas afternoon at Ele- 
phanta.” 


THE MUTINY. 


55 


CHAPTER V. 

THE MUTINY. 

1 17HEN Mr. Ashley had concluded his story, 
^ ’ the defenders of the fortress sat about 
their fire chatting and smoking until the night 
was well advanced. Once, and once only, Mr. 
Ashley and his companions caught sight of a 
dark form as it rose up from the underbrush, 
paused a moment, and then dropped back again 
into concealment. 

Our re-enforcement has arrived,” whispered 
the Englishman. ‘^Now, Robert, you and Tom 
go and obtain a little rest, while Manuel and 
I remain on guard.” 

Can I not stay here with you ? ” eagerly 
asked the boy ; it would be impossible for me 
to sleep.” 

I do not know at what moment the villains 


56 


THE YOUNG CASCAKILLERO. 


may return, or in what manner they will make 
the attack. If they should open fire on us 
from the woods, two people would make a 
smaller target for their bullets than three,’’ 
returned the leader kindly. 

^^But, sir, you will be in as much danger 
as I,” said the lad hesitatingly. 

What would have been the reply of the chief 
it is difficult to state ; for at that moment 
footsteps, as of quite a numerous band, were 
heard approaching, and soon the whole party 
that had gone in search of bark emerged from 
the forest. 

Throwing the burdens which they carried to 
the ground at a little distance from the fire, the 
cascarilleros and the guides stepped forward. 
^‘How is it, my men,” began Mr. Ashley, 
you have returned earlier than I expected ? 
You could not have met with good fortune on 
the trip.” 

There is no more cinchona around for many 



Ah, I feared that we should soon exhaust 



THE MUTINY. 


57 


the supply in this neighborhood. I am sorry, 
for it will compel us to change our camp. 
Never mind, all but the guides may go to 
their quarters. They will remain with me 
a while, as I wish to consult with them re- 
garding our next move.” 

This command of Mr. Ashley excited no 
suspicion on the part of his treacherous fol- 
lowers ; for it was the most natural thing in 
the world for the leader to confer with the 
men who were familiar with the country, be- 
fore changing the location of the camp. 

The faces of the cascarilleros, however, were 
dark and lowering as they betook themselves 
to their rude quarters, but they said nothing. 

Leaving sailor Tom and Manuel well 
armed, to stand guard on the outside, the 
Englishman and Robert preceded the guides 
into the hut. The interior was lighted by 
two lanterns ; and the illumination, though 
not particularly brilliant, was yet sufficient to 
render the features of each individual plainly 
discernible. 


58 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


When Mr. Ashley had seated himself upon 
a small bale of goods, he looked up into the 
countenances of the guides, and calmly asked, — 
^^Now, my men, when do the treacherous 
bark-hunters propose to make the attack ? ” 
Had the white man deliberately discharged 
his rifle at the breast of the guide who stood 
nearest to him he could not have been more 
astonished. They were all thrown into the 
greatest confusion. 

0 senor, sefior ! ” exclaimed one who was 
the first to recover from his consternation. 

It is not our fault ! The cascarilleros have 
threatened us with death if we did not join 
them in their plot, or if we even hinted a 
word to you of what they intended to do.” 

Of that fact I am well assured,” an- 
swered the leader not unkindly. ^^For had it 
been otherwise I should have allowed you to 
remain with them, ignorant that their con- 
spiracy had been discovered ; and you would 
have been obliged to share the punishment 
which I purpose to mete out to the ungrate- 



The Conspirators. 






THE MUTINY. 


61 


ful rascals. But, tell me, what is their 
whole scheme ? And believe me, that what- 
ever it may be, I have ample force at hand 
to suppress the uprising.” 

You shall hear, sehor,” returned the first 
speaker. And glad I am that you have 
discovered the plot, though how you did so 
I do not know.” 

Mr. Ashley smiled at this delicately pro- 
pounded query, and the guide continued, — 

The cascarilleros are wicked men. They 
say to us, ^ The chief is very rich ; he has 
bales of goods which we can trade with the 
Indians. We have gathered for him plenty 
of bark ; this we can take to the south and 
sell to the Peruvians. He has arms and 
ammunition with which we can defend our- 
selves. Come, we will kill him and his 
friends, then go far, far away, and no one 
but ourselves will ever know what became 
of the white men.’” 

Ah ! A wicked plot indeed ! ” remarked 
the Englishman ; and I fear that some of 


62 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


the conspirators will repent it bitterly. But 
I would not have any of the poor wretches 
killed. Let me think how we can avoid 
bloodshed.’’ 

The latter part of the speech which Mr. 
Ashley made, as it were, to himself was in 
English, and therefore understood by Robert. 

Why would it not be a good plan, 
sir,” suggested the boy, ^‘to instruct Cutch- 
la-co-las to surround the mutineers with his 
warriors, and by our combined forces awe 
them into subjection ? ’’ 

‘‘ It is the only thing to do,” answered Mr. 
Ashley thoughtfully. ‘‘ But how can we get 
word to the Indian without exciting suspicion? 
That is the question.” 

Mr. Ashley was allowed no opportunity to 
put the plan into action; for at that moment 
a series of fierce yells, followed by the sharp 
crack of two rifles, broke the stillness of the 
night, and the next instant a perfect pande- 
monium of sound reigned without. 

‘‘They have brought on the attack! We 


THE MUTINY. 


63 


must hasten to the support of Tom and Man- 
uel, and prevent Cutch-la-co-las and his war- 
riors from indulging in wholesale slaughter.’’ 

And Mr. Ashley and Kobert, clutching their 
weapons, darted through the doorway to throw 
themselves into the thickest of the fight. 


64 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLEKO. 


CHAPTER VI. 

QUELLING THE UPRISING. 

D espite the fact of having won over the 
recreant guides to their side, our friends 
would undoubtedly have been worsted had it 
not been for the support of the Indians ; for 
though Mr. Ashley’s party was better armed, 
still they were greatly in the minority. 

As it was, the contest was a short one ; for 
when the miscreants saw the army of dusky 
forms swarming about them, heard the shrill 
cries of the naked warriors, and felt the stings 
of the tiny darts from the formidable blow- 
guns, they were struck with consternation and 
thrown into confusion. 

Loud above the babel of sound Mr. Ash- 
ley’s voice could be distinguished, calling upon 
Cutch-la-co-las to check his people in their 


QUELLING THE UPRISING. 


65 


fierce onslaught ; for as both friend and foe 
were struggling in one mass, his own loyal 
followers were as liable to receive injuries 
from the flying arrows as were the traitorous 
cascarilleros and bearers. 

The faithful Indian heard the command ; 
and, though much against his inclination, he 
restrained his warriors, and soon the conflict 
ceased. But the mutineers, as well as the 
white men and the guides, found themselves 
completely encircled by a dusky band, Cutch- 
la-co-las having thrown his followers into that 
position to prevent the escape of any of the 
vanquished. 

As Mr. Ashley saw this move he became 
alarmed, and the thought flashed into his mind 
that perhaps the wily savage had assisted him 
in suppressing the mutiny for the purpose of 
doing away with more or less of his followers. 
This would consequently weaken his force, and 
thus render him practically powerless to resist 
an attack from the Indians. 

Acting upon the impulse of the moment, 


66 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


the rifle of the Englishman was pointed full 
at the breast of Cutch-la-co-las, and the white 
man hissed through his clinched teeth, — 
“What does this mean, chief?” 

Just at that instant Kobert sprang forward 
and laid his hand upon the weapon of the 
leader, saying in a pleading tone, — 

“ Please, Mr. Ashley, do not shoot him ! I 
know he is our friend.” 

The faces of the Englishman and the Indian 
were indeed a study. That of the leader of 
the expedition expressed a mingling of sur- 
prise at the boy’s temerity, and a determi- 
nation not to be ensnared by any wile of 
his heretofore dusky ally ; while the stolid 
features of Cutch-la-co-las displayed a calm 
disdain of the threatening attitude of the 
European. 

Without turning his head, the chief cast a 
grateful look upon the lad who had interceded 
for him, as though he would say, “ I appreci- 
ate your act, and will not forget it.” 

The warrior was standing as he had stood at 


QUELLING THE UPRISING. 67 

the close of the battle ; a long-bladed knife was 
in his left hand, while his right clutched the 
handle of a hatchet. Not the conventional 
tomahawk of the North American Indian, but a 
carpenter’s tool. Both these he dropped to the 
ground at Mr. Ashley’s menacing gesture, and 
tranquilly folding his arms across his naked 
breast, he said in a subdued voice, — 

The senor believes that Cutch-la-co-las is 
acting a lie, but the boy ” (indicating Robert) 
knows that his heart is true. Let the white 
man shoot, and Cutch-la-co-las will be at peace ; 
but his people will avenge him.” 

The butt of Mr. Ashley’s rifle left his 
shoulder, and extending his right hand he said 
frankly, — 

Chief ! for your threat I care not ; but I 
will admit that I wronged you in my thoughts, 
and I ask your forgiveness.” 

Cutch-la-co-las has nothing to forgive. A 
warrior may be angry with his brother and hare 
his knife to strike ; but the blade will turn aside 
as the blow descends, for his heart would fail 
him.” 


68 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


Then, as though there were nothing further 
to be said to his white friend, the savage stepped 
to the side of Robert, and laying his swarthy 
palm upon the boy’s head he murmured, — 

The seed falls to the ground, and the rain 
washes the earth over it until it is covered. 
The sun sheds its light upon the soil, and the 
shoot appears. Days pass, and it becomes a 
shrub ; while the warriors sleep, the shrub 
grows to be a tree ; when the weary man 
awakes he finds a grateful shade protecting 
him from the heat, and he is thankful. Thus 
will it be with you, son of Cutch-la-co-las ! 

When the dart of the Indian’s weapon 
pierced the tender flesh of the white boy, and 
the leaden bullets from the tube which speaks 
with fire struck this breast ” (and the warrior 
laid his finger upon the scars which still slightly 
showed), then was the seed sown ! But when 
the poor Indian was nursed and allowed to go 
on his way with his weapons in his hand, then 
was the sun shining upon the seed. That seed 
sprang into life when the hungry puma dropped 


QUELLING THE UPRISING. 69 

from the branches of the trees ; and when the 
white boy turned aside the weapon of his mas- 
ter, there was the shrub ! What the tree will 
be, Cutch-la-co-las will show ! This is the 
Indian’s gratitude ! ” 

The full purport of the speech was not under- 
stood by Robert, for it was delivered in the 
native language; but the gestures which accom- 
panied it made its meaning clear, and the lad 
felt that he had, indeed, a life long friend in 
the Indian. 

Day was now breaking ; and it became incum- 
bent upon Mr. Ashley to mete out some punish- 
ment to the leaders of the mutiny, and also to 
care for the wounded. The latter task, how- 
ever, the Indians had voluntarily assumed ; and 
the treatment of the injuries which they them- 
selves had inflicted, . though primitive in its 
nature, eventually proved most efficacious. 

One of the cascarilleros, and he the chief in 
the revolt, had fallen before the rifle of sailor 
Tom at the first moment of the attack. The 
others were brought before Mr. Ashley, and the 


70 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


poor cowardly wretches trembled as they met 
the stern gaze of the kind master whom they 
had so treacherously attempted to wrong. 

Why have you sought to murder us ? ” 
asked the leader. ^^Have you ever received 
any injury at our hands ? ’’ 

Sefior, we have done wrong, and wish to 
be forgiven,” faltered one. 

And you shall be,” was the prompt and 
unexpected reply. Now, tell me, did you 
lie when you stated there was no bark to be 
found in this vicinity ? ” 

‘‘We did, sehor!” was the shame-faced an- 
swer. “ The country for many miles about is 
rich with cinchona.” 

“ Then go and rest for this day, and pre- 
pare to search the forest to-morrow with a 
will. But, remember, that another act of 
treachery on your part, no matter how slight, 
shall be punished with instant death! Go!” 

And the crest-fallen cascarilleros retired to 
their quarters, leaving Cutch-la-co-las and his 
followers astonished at the magnanimity of the 
white man. 


REWARDING CUTCH-LA-CO-LAS. 


71 


CHAPTER YII. 

REWARDING CUTCH-LA-CO-LAS. 

T he cascarilleros had brought in only about 
fifty pounds of green bark. This was 
spread out to dry, and Mr. Ashley immedi- 
ately laid out a systematic plan for his men 
to follow on their next expedition. 

Upon a piece of paper he inscribed a cir- 
cle, the centre of which represented the camp. 
From this he drew lines, five in number, 
to the circumference. 

On each line he wrote the name of a cas- 
carillero ; these were the courses which the 
hunters were to follow, accompanied by two 
bearers apiece, for a distance of ten miles, 
making their way slowly and in a zigzag man- 
ner, so as to cover thoroughly every rod of 
ground. 


72 


THE YOUNG CASCAKILLERO. 


At sundown the leader called his people to- 
gether and minutely explained his plans to them. 

If large trees were found they were to 
mark the spot so that they might easily re- 
turn to the place another time with more 
help ; but all the small growth was to be 
stripped, and the bark carried along with 
them. The distance straight from the camp 
allotted to each party was, as before stated, 
ten miles, although in traversing it the men 
would actually travel over forty. 

The leader had a double purpose in thus 
separating his force : the first was, that the 
section of country round about could be more 
quickly and thoroughly scoured ; while the 
second was, to keep the mischief-making cas- 
carilleros apart, and not allow them an op- 
portunity to concoct another insurrection. 

It is what I should have done at the first,” 
remarked Mr. Ashley to Kobert. The follow- 
ing morning the hunters and bearers radiated 
from the camp, leaving only the guides and 
the three white people behind. 


REWARDING CUTCH-LA-CO-LAS. 


73 


After the expedition had been gone perhaps 
two hours, Cutch-la-co-las, followed by a few 
of his warriors, put in an appearance. They 
deliberately seated themselves on the ground 
before the hut, but said nothing of the object 
of their visit. But Mr. Ashley understood. 
Rising from a box on which he had been sit- 
ting, the white man began : 

Cutch-la-co-las, you have done me a great 
service ; you shall receive your reward.” 

The Indian has asked for nothing.” 

The Englishman smiled at this artless reply. 

Nevertheless, he shall find that his friends 
are not ungrateful.” Then Mr. Ashley called 
Tom and Manuel, and the three entered the 
rude abode together. 

Most of the weapons with wdiich the bark- 
hunters were armed belonged to the company 
for which they were working ; but Robert was 
the owner of a Colt’s navy revolver, whose 
chambers were loaded from the muzzle, and 
it was discharged by the aid of percussion 
caps. 


74 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


When his chief had disappeared, the boy 
drew the revolver from his belt, advanced to 
the side of Cutch-la-co-las and handed it, with 
powder-flask, bullet-pouch, and cap-box to the 
Indian. 

A white man would not be more overjoyed 
to receive a fortune than was the native at 
this present. He saw that the weapon was 
already loaded, as he was more or less famil- 
iar with firearms. Then, tucking the ammu- 
nition into the folds of the cloth which he 
wore about his waist, the delighted savage 
sprang to his feet, and discharged chamber 
after chamber into the air as fast as he 
could draw back the hammer and press the 
trigger, all the while capering about like a 
child pleased with a new toy. 

The fusillade brought Mr. Ashley hurriedly 
to the doorway. 

What is the matter ? ” he asked quickly, 
as he emerged, rifle in hand. 

I gave my revolver to the chief, and he 
seems to be testing its quality,” replied Rob- 



Cutch-la-co-las and his revolver. 


■■■ ■■ 

■ . V* 




■mi 

















EE WARDING CUTCH-LA-CO-LAS. 77 

ert, himself well pleased at the happinness 
manifested by his dusky friend. 

^^You should have consulted me first/' re- 
turned Mr. Ashley somewhat sternly. Were 
Cutch-la-co-las other than what we know him 
to be, the possession of such a weapon as that 
might be disastrous to our party. However, I 
will not upbraid you, as I, myself, intended to 
present him with some antiquated fire-arms.” 

Now followed the distribution of gifts which 
Tom and Manuel were bringing from the hut. 
There were several small bales of cheap printed 
cotton cloths, beads, knives, hatchets — in fact, 
almost everything that would tend to gladden 
the heart of a child of the wilderness. 

Quite a quantity there was too ; for Mr. 
Ashley knew that every man and woman in 
Cutch-la-co-las' band must receive something, 
but the apportioning he left to the chief him- 
self. To each of the Indians who were present, 
the European gave a muzzle-loading shotgun, 
there being only six in the party, and these 
represented the leaders of the tribe. 


78 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


Thus the white chief pays his brother for 
saving him from his enemies.” 

Cutch-la-co-las did not reply at once ; but 
raising his voice he uttered a loud, shrill cry, 
which had a magical effect. 

In a moment, at least twenty women, old 
hags, matrons, and maidens, sprang into the 
clearing, and eagerly laying hold of everything 
upon the ground, save the weapons of the men, 
they disappeared as suddenly as they came, 
well-loaded with the gifts of the Englishman. 

I’m a porpoise if the gals weren’t just a- 
laying in the bush, waiting to be piped on 
deck,” exclaimed Tom. The old fellow must 
a-knowed he was going to get something, and 
so brought his women-folks along to tote off 
the spoils.” 

‘‘ That’s just it, Tom,” returned Mr. Ashley. 

The South American Indians are not very 
different from the rest of mankind. If they 
perform a service for another, they expect 
pay for it.” 

After the female members of his family had 


KEWARDING CUTCH-LA-CO-LAS. 


79 


departed, Cutch-la-co-las delivered a flowery 
speech of thanks, and then, with his revolver 
in one hand and the shot-gun on his shoulder, 
he, too, strode away into the forest, followed 
by the rest of his band. 

suppose that is the last we shall see of 
that chap,” said Mr. Ashley. 

hope not, for he is a noble fellow,” ob- 
served Robert. 

‘‘ True, he is, my lad, for a native of these 
low latitudes. Few who are indigenous to 
this soil are possessed of such manly traits 
as we have discovered in him.” 


80 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


CHAPTER VIII. 

DAYS IN CAMP. 

T he days passed slowly in camp, for there 
was little or nothing to do. Much of 
the time was passed in the shadow of the 
great trees or before the nightly camp-fire ; 
and here Mr. Ashley’s store of reminiscence 
was unlocked for Robert’s amusement, while 
Tom Bowlin helped to fill in the time with 
many a quaint sea-yarn. 

As the time wore away, and they sighed for 
a railroad or a camel train to hasten the return 
of the bark harvest, Mr. Ashley remarked, — 

It would be agreeable to have in this bark- 
hunting such trained animal help as I have 
seen in India.” 

What animals were they, Mr. Ashley ? ” 
queried Robert ; were they elephants ? ” 


DAYS IN CAMP. 


81 


Yes/’ Mr. Ashley replied. Some few 
years ago a syndicate was formed to divest the 
luxuriant forests of Ceylon of their valuable 
product of teak-wood. I was despatched to 
^ the spicy isle ’ to look after the interests of 
the company, and it was while on this service 
that I had occasion to note with astonish- 
ment the intelligence of the elephants em- 
ployed in the work. 

The timber grew from five to ten miles 
inland from Point De Galle, the port of ship- 
ment. With the imperfect roads, the transpor- 
tation of this timber to the sea-coast promised 
to be a difficult matter. 

But the natives were equal to the emer- 
gency. Nearly a hundred coolies were em- 
ployed in felling the trees and trimming the 
trunks into suitable lengths ; with this, how- 
ever, their labor ended, and then the elephant 
came forward for his share in the work. 

The huge beasts worked in pairs. A large 
truck had been built with solid wheels of not 
more than two feet and a half in diameter. 


82 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


This truck was merely a framework; but on 
this the teak-wood logs needed to be placed, 
and then drawn down to the sea. The timber 
was very heavy, but a derrick or other hoisting 
apparatus was out of the question. The ele- 
phants, therefore, had to take the place of 
hoisting machinery. 

The intelligent beasts would place them- 
selves one at either end of the heavy log ; then 
thrusting their tusks beneath it, they would 
throw their trunks above it ; and clasping it 
thus firmly, they would lift and carry it to the 
truck, and then return for another. There was 
one coolie driver to each pair of elephants ; but 
his labor consisted only of trotting at the heels 
of his team, alternately shouting to them his 
words of praise or admonition. 

It was surprising to see how the elephants 
would work their way with the heavy log 
between the smaller trees that had been left 
standing. At times they would have to go 
sidewise ; again, one would go back while the 
other swung forward, until at last the log 


DAYS IN CAMP. 


83 


would be placed on the truck with a precision 
not to be surpassed by a skilful mechanic. 

When perhaps a hundred pieces of timber 
had been thus piled up, the whole load was 
firmly bound together with chains, and then the 
trip to the sea began. 

‘^Six pairs of the elephants were harnessed 
to the truck, while four pairs were hitched to 
the hinder part. What these latter four were 
for I was for a while at a loss to know, but 
before a mile had been traversed I learned 
their use. 

The six pairs made surprisingly good speed 
towing this ungainly land-raft over the rough 
roadway. They did well enough up hill or on 
a level ; but when a decline was reached, then it 
was that the four pairs of beasts following on 
behind were brought into action. 

These hind elephants were harnessed differ- 
ently from those ^on lead.’ The front teams 
had broad breast-straps to which were riveted 
long, stout ^traces.’ But the four spans that 
brought up the rear were fitted with collars, 


84 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


rude saddles, very wide and heavy breeching- 
straps, and ^ traces.’ These traces, however, 
were put on ^ hind side before,’ and led toward 
the elephants’ trunks instead of toward their 
tails. 

^^Now, when the raft began a descent, these 
eight elephants would settle themselves back in 
the ^ breeching,* and planting their huge feet 
in the ground, would ^ hang back,’ and allow 
themselves to be dragged very slowly toward 
the bottom of the hill. 

^^It was a most comical sight to see these 
monstrous animals literally being towed at the 
stern of this uncouth raft. They did not seem 
to enjoy it, however ; for they would toss their 
trunks wildly in the air, at the same time mak- 
ing a noise that was decidedly like a groan, 
while their bright black eyes sparkled like balls 
of polished jet. 

Their companions ^ on lead ’ seemed to 
thoroughly comprehend the discomfiture of 
their brothers astern, and, human-like, became 
exultant over their annoyance, filling the air 
with their trumpet calls. 


DATS IN CAMP. 


85 


^^Thus the raft was taken to the sea over 
several miles of rough, uneven road. When 
the shore was reached, the logs had to be built 
into a floating raft, so as to be taken off to the 
waiting vessel lying at anchor in the harbor. 

This work also needed to be performed by 
the elephants ; and they seemed to enjoy it more 
than any other part of the labor, for the water 
was cool and refreshing. 

They would walk in until only their heads 
and a corresponding portion of their backs were 
visible ; only thus could they gain temporary 
relief from the myriads of flies and other insects 
that continually swarmed about them. 

The completion of the floating raft finished 
the labor of these intelligent beasts. At what- 
ever time in the day their task was over, their 
masters would allow them the remaining por- 
tion for themselves ; and they wandered about 
at will, seeming to thoroughly enjoy their lib- 
erty, to which they were surely entitled, for 
they had worked continuously for five days at 
their laborious task.’' 


86 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


Eobert was greatly interested in this account 
of the intelligence of the trained elephant, and 
echoed Mr. Ashley’s wish for some such help to 
spur on the lazy cascarilleros. 

But at last even these deliberate bark-hunters 
appeared. Their return was hailed with joy. 
After they had been absent from camp a week, 
they began to drop in one after another, tired 
and hungr}^, but all loaded with larger or 
smaller bundles of the valuable cinchona. 

Those who had gone in a southerly direction 
seemed to have met with the most success, and 
and it was deemed advisable to move toward 
that point of the compass. 

The large tree had been located, and after 
some hours’ rest the hunters went to strip it ; 
this time Eobert and Tom accompanied them. 

As the boy saw the valuable product in its 
primitive form, spreading a broad canopy of 
bright green wax-like leaves, interspersed with 
clusters of drooping purple flowers, and emit- 
ting a fragrance almost oppressive, his enthu- 
siasm knew no bounds. 


DAYS IN CAMP. 


87 


Springing to a parasitical vine, which twined 
about the trunk, the lad began to climb aloft 
towards the branches, disregarding the calls of 
his companions. He had reached a height of 
some fifteen feet, when he felt a terrible sting 
upon his right hand. 

So sudden and intense was the pain that 
for a moment the boy forgot his hold, and 
with a shriek, fell helpless to the ground. 

In an instant Tom and Manuel were by 
the side of Robert. His left leg was doubled 
beneath him in an unnatural position, and the 
sailor at once saw that the limb had sustained 
a fracture. 

His leg is broken ! exclaimed the mariner. 

Come, let us straighten it out.” 

No, no,” murmured the lad, who had not 
lost consciousness, it is my hand.” And 
holding up the member, the experienced eye 
of Manuel detected a tiny red spot upon the 
fleshy part of the ball of the thumb. 

A look of consternation overspread the face 
of the Ecuadorian; and he whispered in the 


88 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


ear of the sailor, so as not to he overheard 
by the youthful sufferer, — 

He has been stung by a scorpion ! 

And that means death,” groaned Tom. 
S’pose we wait, boy him die ; s’pose w^ork 
quick, boy him live,” was the answer in broken 
English. 


THE POISONED HAND. 


89 


CHAPTER IX. 


THE POISONED HAND. 

HAT Manuel’s mode of treating the case 



” of the injured youth would have been 
it is hard to say ; but, ere he had time to begin 
any operation, the bushes opened and Cutch-la- 
co-las, the friendly Indian, stood before them. 

He uttered no word, but knelt quickly at 
Robert’s side, and taking the wounded hand 
in his own looked closely at the spot where 
the sting of the scorpion had penetrated. The 
discoloration about the puncture was rapidly 
deepening in hue and spreading, showing how 
actively the venom was dispersing itself. 

The savage, without consulting the friends 
of the boy, drew his knife, and, with its lance- 
like point made two deep incisions in the 
shape of a cross directly over the wound. 


90 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


Then in a loud voice he called earnestly to 
some of his people who had not yet put in 
an appearance, apparently sending them on 
some important mission ; after which, with- 
out the slightest hesitation, he placed Robert’s 
hand to his mouth and began slowly to draw 
forth the poison that was already making 
rapid progress towards the citadel of life. 

The youthful patient through extreme pain 
had lost consciousness, and now lay like one 
dead. 

There’s no doubt, Manuel/’ said Tom, 
that the scorpion’s sting is the most serious 
of the two injuries. The lad’s leg is broken, 
though ; and if we don’t straighten it out, now 
that he doesn’t know what is going on, he 
will suffer a heap of pain when he returns to 
consciousness. So lend me a hand to do what 
we can with it, while the chief is busy on the 
other wound. It’s safe to say that the Indian 
knows more about the bites and stings of the 
insects and reptiles of the woods than do we 
white men ; but when it comes to a shattered 
bone, we’re the ones to turn doctor.” 


THE POISONED HAND. 


91 


As tlie kind-hearted sailor essayed to place 
the leg, which had been fractured between the 
ankle and knee, in a natural position, a moan 
of pain issued from the lips of Robert ; but the 
two men continued their work as tenderly as 
possible. 

It was a rude bit of surgery, yet it answered 
the purpose. The mariner divested himself of 
his shirt, which he immediately tore up into 
bandages, and swathed the injured member ; 
over these he bound a number of small, stout 
reeds, and his task was finished. 

But ere his work was completed two of the 
followers of Cutch-la-co-las appeared, each carry- 
ing a stick that had been split for a few inches 
of its length, and in the slot of each of these 
primitive pincers squirmed a live scorpion, 
which, in obedience to the orders of their chief, 
they had succeeded in capturing. 

The tiny reptiles were at once crushed, and 
the disgusting-looking mass applied to the 
wound, which was now bleeding freely, and 
firmly bound in position. 


92 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


The work of making the unfortunate youth 
as comfortable as possible occupied his friends 
perhaps half an hour ; then, after bathing 
Robert’s temples with a little water from a 
spring that was not far distant, the boy opened 
his eyes, but did not speak ; the pain which he 
was su:ffering was too intense to admit of 
words. 

Shall we bear the lad to the white man’s 
camp ? ” asked Cutch-la-co-las in Spanish, rising 
to his feet. 

That we will, chief,” replied Tom eagerly. 

And as lively as good, strong legs can carry 
him, for he can’t be very comfortable lying 
here on the hard ground.” 

Again the voice of the Indian rang through 
the forest. This time his call was answered by 
fully a dozen of his warriors. 

Obeying some instructions, the natives hurried 
away; but soon reappeared, laden with long, 
straight poles and coils of small, though tough, 
fibrous vines, with which they at once began to 
construct a rude litter. 


THE POISONED HAND. 


93 


When it was completed, Robert was carefully 
lifted and laid upon it ; then, at a word from 
their leader, the Indians raised the stretcher to 
their shoulders, and the march camp-ward was 
begun. Tom and Manuel followed with Cutch- 
la-co-las, leaving the rest of the party to strip 
the cinchona tree, the climbing of which had so 
nearly proved fatal to our young hero. 

Mr. Ashley was greatly moved when he saw 
the burden which the natives bore. Had Rob- 
ert been his own son, the kind-hearted English- 
man could not have been more affected. 

Although the sailor and the guide had bound 
the boy’s fractured limb in a straight position, 
it was not so skilful a piece of surgery as the 
leader could perform ; for he was supplied with 
all the appliances necessary for such an opera- 
tion. After the patient had been laid upon his 
cot, Mr. Ashley undid the work of his subordi- 
nates, and set the fracture as completely as it 
could have been done by an experienced sur- 
geon. 

During the fever which followed his injuries. 


94 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


Robert was nursed and tended' with the utmost 
care, not only by Mr. Ashley and Tom, but 
Cutch-la-co-las positively refused to leave the 
bedside of his young friend. 

To the broken limb the Indian paid no atten- 
tion, leaving that to the white men ; but he 
claimed the entire charge of the wounded hand, 
and at the expiration of a week the youthful 
bark-hunter was so far recovered that he felt 
little inconvenience from the sting of the scor- 
pion, which might have proved fatal. 

Mr. Ashley had delayed changing the camp 
until the boy was strong enough to stand the 
journey. When, at last, the day arrived to 
make the move, Cutch-la-co-las, with his In- 
dians, was on hand to carry the invalid to the 
new quarters ; they performed their task most 
cheerfully, for they had all grown to love the 
patient, gentle lad who had interceded with his 
superior in behalf of their chief. 


HOMEWARD BOUND. 


95 


CHAPTER X. 

HOMEWARD BOUND. 

D ays passed. The expedition had been 
absent from the sea-coast some three 
months ; and as their stock of provisions was 
growing low, Mr. Ashley deemed it expedient 
to begin the return march to Guayaquil. 

They had been successful even beyond the 
expectation of the leader of the party ; and 
had it not been for the accident to Robert, 
they would have turned their faces westward 
more than satisfied with the time spent in 
the wilds of South America. 

Although the bone in Robert’s leg had firmly 
knitted, still the limb was not yet strong enough 
to bear the boy’s weight over the miles and 
miles of rough country which must be traversed 
ere they reached a place where they could pro- 
cure mules. 


96 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


The bearers,” one and all, were willing, nay, 
anxious, to carry the lad on their shoulders ; but 
to this, Cutch-la-co-las, who with his people 
had remained near the bark-hunters, would not 
listen. 

No,” he said. The Indian has shown his 
son the seed, the shrub, and the tree,” referring 
to his speech of gratitude at the time of the 
mutiny. The tree was when Cutch-la-co-las 
with his own lips drew the poison of the scor- 
pion from the wounded hand ; but now he will 
go farther, and show his son and his friends the 
fruit of gratitude.” 

The untutored savage was as good as his 
word. Every foot of the weary w^ay up and 
down the steep sides of the rugged Andes, Rob- 
ert was tenderly borne upon the dusky shoul- 
ders of the faithful Indians, the chief himself 
frequently assuming a portion of the burden. 

Many miles away from their own country 
the natives followed the white men, far, far 
beyond the limit which any of them had here- 
tofore travelled. At the first signs of civiliza- 


HOMEWARD BOUND. 


97 


tion — which, however, was nothing more than 
a scarcely discernible path — the Indians began 
to exhibit symptoms of nervousness which were 
not lost upon Mr. Ashley ; and calling a halt, 
he, yet not without some difficulty, persuaded 
them to return to their homes. 

They were loaded with all the goods which 
were left of those which the hunters had 
brought into the forest to barter, and the In- 
dians were made happy; but Cutch-la-co-las 
would touch nothing. He seemed to be greatly 
affected by the parting, particularly when he 
came to say good-by to Robert. 

The stoicism of the warrior was for the 
moment forgotten. Placing both of his hands 
upon the boy’s shoulders he peered earnestly 
into the pale, upturned face before him; and 
then, as though ashamed of the weakness which 
he had already displayed, and to conceal his 
emotion which he could no longer restrain, the 
chief turned abruptly. Then, without a word, 
he walked away, following in the footsteps of 
his people who had preceded him, and the 


98 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


noble Cutch-la-co-las was seen no more, while 
Robert, with tear-stained cheeks, remained gaz- 
ing at the dark, interminable forest that had 
swallowed up his never-to-be-forgotten friend. 

The succeeding day Mr. Ashley despatched 
Manuel and another guide on ahead, in light 
marching order, to procure mules, and with them 
hasten back to meet the expedition, whose prog- 
ress was of necessity slow, laden as the men 
were with bales of bark, provisions, arms, and 
ammunition. 

A week elapsed before the leaders of the 
cavalcade caught sight of Manuel and his 
companion returning, followed by a number 
of mules and their drivers. Although many 
miles yet intervened between our friends and 
the largest river on the western coast of South 
America, still it seemed as if the journey was 
almost at an end, they having passed through 
so many dangers and hardships. 

At times Robert would experience a twinge 
of pain in his leg ; yet he was able to sit 
his animal without serious inconvenience. 


HOMEWARD BOUND. 


99 


and the rest of the march was made quite 
rapidly. 

The successful expedition entered Guayaquil 
a little over four months from the time it 
had left it. They returned rich with a store 
of the precious cinchona for which they had 
been despatched. 

No statement was made to the authorities 
regarding the treachery of the cascarilleros ; 
and they were paid in full for their services, 
as were the guides and bearers, Manuel re- 
ceiving an extra share for his fidelity. Robert 
and sailor Tom found themselves in possession 
of more money than they could have earned 
in two years upon shipboard. 

^^Why it’s better n pearl-divin,’ this bark- 
hunting is,” Tom said as he once more 
counted over his “dividend” from his work 
as a cascarillero. 

“ Why, were you ever a pearl-diver, Tom ? ” 
asked Robert. 

“No, but I’ve seen ’em at it,” replied Tom, 
“ and sometimes they bring up a fortune. ” 


100 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


Not often a fortune, Tom,” said Mr. Ashley, 
who had overheard the remark. I’ve watched 
that pearl-hunting business myself among the 
West Indies ; and while it is interesting to 
watch, it is neither a safe nor a pleasant oc- 
cupation.” 

Do they get the pearls from oysters, Mr. 
Ashley?” asked Kobert. 

^^Many people have the impression that the 
pearl is found only in the oyster,” Mr. Ashley 
replied ; and that these are gathered beneath 
the waters of tropical America, Persia, and 
India. It is true that these bivalves frequently 
secrete the most valuable specimens of the 
opaque gem, but they cannot claim the exclu- 
sive production of these much-sought-for articles 
of commerce. 

Oysters grown in any locality frequently 
contain a prize ; while even the fresh-water 
clam, which has its home in the beds of your 
clear-running streams of New England, is 
eagerly hunted, in the hope of finding an 
occasional pearl. 


HOMEWARD BOUND. 


101 


Often, at your home, Robert, you must 
have paused before some well-kept garden to 
admire the beautiful conical-shaped shells ar- 
ranged along the sides of the walks, and won- 
dered what creatures had used these houses for 
their habitations. These are the conch-shells; 
they are found in great profusion about the 
Bahamas and West India Islands. This species 
of mollusk are pearl-producing; and although 
the gems do not rank in price with those 
taken from the oyster, they are considered by 
many to be much handsomer, as they are of a 
most delicate shade of pink, and as a rule are 
quite large, not infrequently being found the 
size of a pea. A perfect one of this dimen- 
sion may be purchased in the West Indies for 
forty or fifty dollars, according to the financial 
condition of the finder ; but in the markets of 
Boston or New York it would bring a much 
larger sum. 

Some few years since, on Key Francis, a 
small coral island some twelve miles off the 
northern coast of Cuba, I met a party of 


102 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


conch-hunters who had come from the main- 
land. All they had to do was to roll up their 
trousers, wade out upon the reefs where the 
water was shallow, and gather the clumsy 
fellows as they crawled slowly along the 
bottom. 

The oyster-divers spread their catch in the 
sun to allow the fleshy substance to decom- 
pose, then the shells are washed and the pearl 
sought for. But the conch-hunters pursue a 
different course, and one which seems very 
cruel. They take a common fish-hook, to 
which is attached a piece of string perhaps 
two feet in length, insert the sharp point into 
the orifice of the heavy shell and bury the 
barb in the head of the helpless creature. The 
conches are then hung in rows upon poles, 
whose ends rest on crotched sticks driven into 
the ground. Slowly the mollusk is drawn from 
its abode by the weight of its own habitation ; 
but so tenacious are they of life, that two hours 
or more will elapse ere they will let go their 
hold and give up the ghost. The shell is not 


HOMEWARD BOUND. 


103 


as yet wholly clean, but a thorough rinsing 
round in a tub of water will dislodge any pearl 
which may be lurking within. 

One would think that the shells could be 
broken ; but many blows with a heavy ham- 
mer would be needed before any impression 
could be made on the flint-like substance, and 
this is too arduous a task for the languid 
Cuban. 

The conch-pearl hunters never get very 
rich. Scarcely more than one out of a thou- 
sand conch-shells contains a prize, and half 
a dozen men would not be able to gather and 
cleanse half that number in a day. The shells 
find a ready market at one dollar and a half 
or two dollars per hundred, according to their 
beauty ; and thus the native is enabled to earn 
a living, even if not fortunate enough to obtain 
a pearl.’' 

Mr. Ashley had received orders to return 
to England and bring with him the products 
of the expedition, which he was very proud 
and happy to do ; consequently, when the 


104 


THE YOUNG CASCARILLERO. 


next steamer left Guayaquil for Panama, it 
had in the cabin as passengers, Mr. Ashley, 
Tom Bowlin, and the boy Robert. 

They crossed the Isthmus, and again em- 
barked at Aspinwall, and ten days later stepped 
ashore upon the dock in New York. At that 
port Mr. Ashley was to take the steamer to 
England. 

Our young hero was anxious to reach his 
New England home ; and as Tom was feeling 
too rich to go to sea at once, he was easily 
persuaded by the lad to accompany him to the 
scenes of his childhood. 

My dear friends,” said Mr. Ashley at part- 
ing, ‘^you must keep me posted in regard to 
your movements. I cannot remain idle for 
any length of time, and no doubt shall be 
away before long on another expedition, in 
which case I want you to accompany me.” 

I’d be only too glad to go, Cap’n,” replied 
Tom heartily, for never in all my life have I 
cruised with so square a man.” 

Robert was of the same mind ; and thus 


HOMEWARD BOUND. 


105 


they separated, mutually pleased with one an- 
otlier. 

Robert and Tom arrived in the little New 
England village which had been the birth- 
place of the former, and were joyfully wel- 
comed by the lad’s widowed mother and fair 
sister. 

For many evenings, when seated before the 
glowing fire of logs that blazed upon the 
hearth, the two travellers found willing lis- 
teners as they recited the adventures which 
had befallen them among the bark-hunters of 
South America. 




COLONEL THORNDIKE’S 
ADVENTURES. 











COLONEL THORNDIKE’S 
ADVENTURES. 


CHAPTER I. 

A DOG AND A SHIPWRECK. 

T he colonel sat in his comfortable library. 

The two boys, who delighted to browse 
among their uncle’s treasures and curios when 
they came to visit him, were full of questions 
as to this and that odd bit or attractive decora- 
tion. The questions, of course, led to answers, 
until finally, as they paused before a well pre- 
served dog-skin, Phil cried impulsively, — 

Uncle Ned, I know this skin has a story 
about it. Tell us about it, won’t you? Was 
it your dog ? ” 

And so, before he was aware of it. Uncle Ned, 


109 


110 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

tlie colonel, was launched into story-telling. 
Probably few men had so many memories for 
stories as he ; for Colonel Thorndike had been 
a great traveller, a fearless adventurer, and a 
keen observer of men and things and animals 
and events. 

That dog-skin, Phil?” he said. ^^Well, it’s 
worth its weight in gold to me ! Peace to the 
ashes of the dear fellow that once lived within 
it. 

If being faithful, if loving another better 
than one’s self, if giving one’s life for his friend, 
merits anything hereafter, that dear old dog 
must somewhere be receiving his reward.” 
And then the colonel told his story: — 

He was with me throughout my service as 
war-correspondent in the French and German 
war. He often heard the bullets whistle, but 
never received a scratch. 

One day we were going over a hill, behind 
some skirmishing lines, when a stray bullet 
struck me, and nearly knocked the life out of 


A DOG AND A SHIPWRECK. 


Ill 


me. On my hands and knees I crept under the 
shadow of a low shrub, and fell senseless. 

I have only a dim recollection of parching 
thirst ; of frightful things happening that never 
happened at all ; of rain pouring down upon 
me ; of the sun burning me. Then I gradually 
realized that 1 was still alive. It was days 
afterward — I shall never know how many. 

That dear old fellow, thin as a shadow, and so 
hoarse that he could scarcely bark, was running 
about me, snapping at the crows and the vul- 
tures that were hanging above, impatiently 
waiting for my death. 

Slowly I raised myself till I leaned against a 
rock beside me. Seeing this, the poor brute 
started off at a run. 

I was faint ; I was thirsty. If I could only 
kill one of those vile birds, it would be better 
than nothing. 

I tried to get my pistol from my belt, but it 
was rusted in, and I had not the strength to 
draw it out. 

A hideous crow came and sat on my foot. I 


112 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

had not enough energy to frighten him away. 
My head fell back upon the rock. I was quite 
ready to die. 

At that moment I heard the dog’s feet and his 
fierce panting as he rushed up the hill, dropped 
something beside me, and sprang at the crow. 

He had brought me a large bird, of some sort. 
It was still fluttering. 

Shudder if you will, boys. In my place you 
would have done the same, I think. I took its 
throat in my teeth, tore it open, and drank its 
blood. 

For several days, that loyal comrade thus 
brought me food, whenever I roused enough to 
let him leave me. He licked my wound, and 
kept the carrion creatures away while I slept. 

At last a squad of soldiers passed under the 
hill, and he literally dragged one of them to my 
hiding-place. 

God bless him, wherever he is. No ! If I 
were dying of starvation, I do not think that 
I would sell that skin. 


A DOG AND A SHIPWRECK. 


113 


“Well, I shouldn’t think you would,” ex- 
claimed George, as the colonel concluded his 
story. And Phil, smoothing down the black 
dog-skin, said, “ Good dog ! 1 wish I had known 
him. What else did he ever do for you, Uncle 
Ned?” 

“ He helped me get ■ away from Paris by 
balloon,” said the colonel; “and he sailed the 
balloon besides.” 

The boys expressed incredulity at this; but 
their uncle said, “It’s a fact; I’ll tell you 
about it.” And he told them this story of a 
dog’s intelligence : — 

It was this way. We were in Paris, he and I. 
We were caught there by the Prussian army 
that surrounded the city. We could have gone 
through the lines on a nationality pass, or a 
press pass, for we were both foreigners and 
news-gatherers ; but we preferred to stay and 
see the fun, though we did grow very hungry 
when tough old cats were selling in the mar- 
kets at one dollar and thirty cents apiece. 


114 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

I never dared let that dear fellow out of 
my sight. Dog-meat had gone up to sixty 
cents a pound, and marketmen were constantly 
out after game. 

^Ye were walking one day by that centre 
of all excitement in Paris, whether in peace 
or war, the Hotel de Ville. The Frenchmen 
were filling a balloon. For weeks this had 
been their only means of communication with 
the world. 

There were posters up all about, and the 
dog and I stopped to read one of them. The 
announcement stated that there were impor- 
tant despatches which must go that night; 
and a large reward was offered to any one 
who would take them out, giving the quali- 
fications required. 

I looked at the dog, and the dog looked at 
me. He wagged his tail, and I nodded my 
head. Then we walked into the office. We 
easily convinced the officials that we were to 
be trusted ; the only trouble was that neither 
of us had ever been up in a balloon. 


He had brought me a large bird. 



;[ 

1 


.1 







A DOG AND A SHIPWRECK 


117 


All that afternoon we took lessons from 
the only man left in Paris who nnderstood 
balloons. They could not let him go. 

In the evening the officer gave us the de- 
spatches, and I put them in my pocket. They 
were not so safe with me as they would 
have been with the dog ; but then, you see, 
he had no pocket. 

It was a moonlight night, with just a few 
clouds. We waited till one covered the moon; 
for the Prussian guards had learned the se- 
cret of the air-ships, and had put a bullet 
through more than one of them on its flight 
out of Paris. 

The moment the cloud came over the moon, 
we were cut loose, and at once bounded up 
and up and up, as though we were in an 
elevator that kept making fresh starts, and 
yet never stopped. It was a decidedly un- 
pleasant sensation, and I tried to distract my 
mind by looking down. 

The great city swam about under me for 
a moment ; then the fires burning along the 


118 COLONEL THOKNDIKe’s ADVENTURES 

Prussian lines seemed to whirl like a great 
wheel of fire. I heard several sharp reports, 
and saw the flashes down below. I quickly 
drew my head into the car again ; but if the 
fellows were firing at me, they missed. 

It grew cold. It was almost impossible to 
breathe. Everything was wet in an instant. 
That black fellow gave the most mournful 
howl you ever heard ; it was the first sound 
he had . made. I tried to speak to him, but 
the wind and water took my breath away ; 
and before I succeeded, we made another fu- 
rious leap, and the clear, white moonlight 
flashed upon our faces. 

Suddenly I realized that we had shot 
through the cloud that was floating so high 
above the city of Paris, and the thought that 
we were higher yet, and bounding higher, 
made my head swim. 

I caught the rope that opened the valve 
and began to pull. I knew I was pulling; 
but, either from the cold or from something 
else, my hands were so numb that I could 


A DOG AND A SHIPWRECK. 


119 


not feel the rope. Somehow I did not care 
much whether I pulled or not. I began to 
topple one way and the other. The dog kept 
up his howling ; but he seemed a mile away. 
What did I care where the balloon went to ? 
My hands began to slip from the rope; but 
it did not seem worth my while to try to 
put them back again. Then I have a vague 
recollection of collapsing, in a sort of indis- 
criminate heap, in the bottom of the car. 

I don’t know how long afterwards I opened 
my eyes. I was feeling all right. Then I 
remembered where I was. I sprang to my 
feet. We were floating over a fruit orchard. 
There was a village not far away. I looked 
about to see how it had all happened ; and there 
sat that dear old boy, at the very edge of 
the car, braced for dear life, holding the 
valve rope in his teeth, and pulling for all 
he was worth. His blood-shot eyes rolled up 
and rested on me, and I could see the very 
tip of his tail making a faint endeavor to 
wag. 


120 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

I threw out the anchor and we touched 
the ground. A happier dog you never saw. 
He gave one yelp as he jumped out, and 
looking up said, as plain as any words could 
put it : I reckon we’d better not try bal- 

looning again till one of us knows something 
about it.” 

should say not,” said George. ‘‘That 
was pretty near to getting shipwrecked, wasn’t 
it ? Which do you suppose is worse. Uncle 
Ned — getting balloon-wrecked or getting ship- 
wrecked ? ” 

“ Mighty little choice, Georgy,” laughed his 
uncle ; “ it’s six of one to half a dozen of 
the other.” 

“Were you ever shipwrecked. Uncle Ned?” 
Phil asked. 

“ Shipwrecked? ” said the colonel. “ Oh, yes ; 
three times in all.” 

“ How ? ” demanded George. 

“ Once on a steamer,” his uncle replied. 
“That only amounted to a little excitement 


A DOG AND A SHIPWRECK. 


121 


and the loss of my luggage. Once on a Japa- 
nese junk, resulting in a vigorous swim for 
half a mile. Once I was shipwrecked in good 
earnest. I shall never forget it.” 

Thereupon, in response to the boys’ clamor, 
the colonel told this story : — 

Our staunch schooner went ashore in the 
straits at Cape Horn. 

The wind blew a gale. It always blows 
there. The night was black as ship’s coffee. 
We had all fast but a jib forward, and a bit 
of sail aft, to steady her. The sea was run- 
ning so hard that no anchor could have held 
us. It was go on, or go down. 

We did both. 

One who has passed through the straits by 
daylight, and admired that wilderness of rocks 
and ledges and wild islands, may perhaps 
imagine what it would be to fly through at 
night, before a gale of wind, without a light 
anywhere, and in such dense darkness that one 
could not see the rope that he was working. 


122 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

Two men were at the wheel, two at the prow, 
and all hands stood waiting. 

I was making my way forward, when sud- 
denly the jib flapped against the stays. 

The wind was gone ! Nothing but a cliff 
close upon our starboard bow could have done 
it. I shouted to put the helm hard down ; but 
before the first man could repeat the order, there 
was a blinding flash of lightning. It was years 
ago, but I would give all that I possess to oblit- 
erate the memory of that sight to-day. 

There was a great cliff to starboard ; giant 
rocks were to port ; savage ledges rose dead 
ahead. They were all white with angry foam, 
and we were making at least eight miles an 
hour, where no power under heaven could stop 
us but those rocks. 

I yelled an order to let go the anchors, fool- 
ish as it was, and started for the helm. 

There was another fearful flash, and the whole 
ship was a white glow. The mast beside me 
flew in splinters. I saw two men at the wheel 
fall senseless. A ball of fire danced along the 


A DOG AND A SHIPWRECK. 


123 


deck and burst under the water>cask. I saw 
the great cask thrown from its fastenings and 
coming directly toward me. 

I remember the cask striking me and knock- 
ing me down. I remember grasping it to pre- 
vent its rolling upon me. Then a loud report 
roused me. I was still clinging to the cask ; but 
the. cask was in the water, striking furiously 
against the rocks. 

It saved my life. It did more ; for the water 
in the cask kept me alive on that barren rock 
for eight days, till I was rescued. 


124 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 


CHAPTER II. 

ICE-PACK, MONSOON, AND DORY. 

EORGE gave a great sigh of satisfaction as 



^ his uncle concluded his story. Boys do 
like the spice of desperation in tbeir stories, and 
certainly the colonel’s situation had been a des- 
perate one. 

‘^What a terrible land that must be in the 
Straits of Cape Horn,” Phil remarked. Isn’t 
it dreadfully desolate. Uncle Ned ? ” 

Yes ; it is a wild and forbidding region, 
Phil,” the colonel replied : but there are other 
parts of the world quite as forbidding. An 
Arctic ice-pack, for instance.” 

What is an ice-pack ?” asked George. 

Let me tell you a story about it, and that 
will best explain,” replied the colonel ; and then 
he told the boys the following : — 


ICE-PACK, MONSOON, AND DORY. 125 

An artist friend, in search of icebergs, be- 
guiled me to take passage with him upon a 
fishing-vessel bound for the southern coast of 
Greenland. 

We reached the coast of Labrador before we 
saw a cake of floating ice, and the artist began 
to groan ; but the skipper, who thought much 
more of fish, was in high glee. 

The first rough weather came with a dense 
fog and a north-east gale, driving us to shelter 
in a little bay. Three days we lay there ; then 
the skipper’s patience gave out, and with one jib 
and a reefed sail, we went flying out into the fog. 

Before long we began bumping mercilessly 
against blocks of floating ice, in spite of two 
men at the prow. 

The ice increased, and the vessel shook and 
trembled under the shocks ; while the skipper’s 
face, as he fell off a little before the wind, 
clearly indicated that he would gladly be back 
in the harbor. 

It began to snow, and we could not see across 
the deck; but a sudden gust opened a rift in 


126 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

the snow, and a shout from the lookout mingled 
with a cry of horror from every one on deck. 
We were driving dead into a mountain of float- 
ing ice, higher than the mast-head. 

The helm went down, and we careened till the 
sail was under water ; yet even then we slid, 
with a suggestive thump, over an arm of the 
iceberg stretching out under the water, and 
almost capsized. 

That was a close call,” muttered the skip- 
per; ^^but we’ll have a closer before the day is 
done.” 

He was right. The wind began to come in 
savage gusts and veering flaws, lifting the snow 
here and there, only to reveal more and more a 
fearful reality. A solid mass of pack-ice was 
piling higher and higher between us and the 
distant coast. On the starboard side, a vast field 
of ice was bearing down upon us from the open 
sea. Behind us, the path by which we came was 
obliterated ; and, dead ahead, several large ice- 
bergs circled with pack-ice could now and then 
be seen. Between them lay our only hope. 


ICE-PACK; MONSOON; AND DORY. 127 

Braced against the mainmast the skipper 
stood; keeping his eyes everywhere. No time 
was to be lost; for the ice ahead was closing in. 
The vessel was brought about upon a tack that 
would barely make the opening; more sail was 
made; and we dashed forward like the wind. 

The opening grew smaller and smaller; and 
the floating ice banged against our prow as we 
plunged forward. We entered the rift at the 
last moment, with an enormous iceberg on one 
side, and a mass of pack-ice rapidly drifting 
toward it, on the other. 

In another moment we should have been in 
clear water beyond, when we caught upon a 
shoulder of the iceberg, slid almost out of the 
water, lost our headway and before we recov- 
ered from the shock found ourselves held like a 
wedge between the two masses. 

Out with the ice anchors ! ” shouted the 
captain. Get her out of this in one minute or 
we are gone.” 

In an instant the ice anchors were fast, and 
the men working like demons on the ropes. 


128 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

We moved forward, when suddenly the iceberg 
lurched to one side, dropping us into the water, 
and setting us free. The gale tugged fiercely 
at the sails, but the aft anchor on the pack-ice 
held, and we began to go over. 

Cut the aft line, or we’ll swamp ! ” yelled 
the captain. 

I stood nearest the rope, as it creaked and 
strained ; and, catching an axe which had been 
used to set the anchor, I sprang upon the rail, 
and with one blow severed the taut line. The 
vessel bounded from the ice, righted, felt the 
sails, and plunged forward ; while I lost my bal- 
ance, fell from the rail and landed on my face, 
flat upon the ice. 

When I gained my feet, the vessel was twenty 
rods away, plunging before a hurricane ; and I 
was alone, ofi the bleak coast of Labrador, upon 
a mass of floating ice. 

She could not return. It would have been 
death to all on board to attempt it. Spell- 
bound I stood there watching the retreating 
sail, when the snow ceased as quickly as it had 


ICE-PACK, MONSOON, AND DORY. 129 

begun, and the setting sun transformed those 
masses of ice to mountains of rainbows. The 
dory had been forgotten in our sudden depart- 
ure, and still bounded on behind. I saw it cut 
loose, and realized that a single figure, in the 
frail boat, was coming back to me ; but in the 
excitement of the moment I did not give it a 
second thought. I was too intently watching 
the sail. 

The ice was everywhere ; floe after floe, creak- 
ing and groaning, was packing up in every di- 
rection, while the vessel dove and leaped and 
floundered on. 

Where is she going ? ” I muttered. 

She tacked and tacked again, careening 
almost to the water as she filled away. I 
watched till, just as the last disk of the sun was 
sinking, I saw her make for what must have 
been a narrow rift between two giant icebergs. 

I saw her enter and hesitate, as though she 
had lost the wind; and then, before my staring 
eyes, I saw the two great masses close upon 
each other with a crash that sounded like dis- 


130 COLONEL thokndike’s adventukes. 

tant thunder. The last ray of the setting sun 
flashed like colored Are over one pyramid of 
crystal, in whose icy heart the good ship lay 
buried, with every soul on board. 

My first instinctive act was to fall upon my 
knees and thank God that I was there, ofl the 
bleak coast of Labrador, upon a mass of floating 
ice and not on that doomed ship. 

I was roused by the voice of the artist. The 
dory had been crushed under him, but he had 
made his way to me over the ice. 

We held a council, while the ice heaved and 
groaned beneath us. Freezing, starving, drown- 
ing, stared us in the face. If we could gain the 
shore, we should be safer, at all events ; but we 
must do it before the tide turned or the wind 
changed, breaking up the floe and sending it 
far out to sea. 

It was a clear, cold night ; and running, climb- 
ing, leaping, floating on cakes of ice, we made 
our way. The night was short ; but with the 
gray light of morning, more dead than alive, 
we stood upon the shore. 


ICE-PACK, MONSOON, AND DORY. 131 

Our trouble was by no means over ; but we 
were sure of what was beneath us, at all events. 
When the sun shone, we found the warmest 
place we could, and slept. When it was too 
cold to sleep we plodded southward, living on 
ice and snow, knowing nothing of the coast, 
only watching for a sail or a sign of life ; till, 
half-frozen and more than half-famished, we 
came, without warning, upon a miserable, di- 
lapidated fishermen’s settlement. 

It seemed like reaching Paradise. The finest 
hotel in Europe or America has never afforded 
me such comfort as one of those wretched huts; 
and when a cup of coffee, not just what it might 
be, vexes me, I often recall the pleasure with 
which I drank the half-melted blubber provided 
by that Esquimau Indian. 

I think I’d rather hear you tell of it. Uncle 
Ned,” remarked Phil, ^^than go through such 
an experience myself. I don’t like so much ice. 
Ice-cream soda is about all I want of it, — or 
ice-water.” 


132 COLONEL thokndike’s adventures. 

Sometimes too much water is as perilous as 
too much ice/’ said the colonel ; as for in- 
stance : ” 

I remember an adventure I had when I was 
on an American trader, bound for Manilla. We 
were in the Yellow Sea. The Yellow Sea is 
true to its name, being colored from the mud 
of the great Si River. It is open to every wind 
that blows, and to every current that runs, and 
is always uneasy. 

The season was the worst of all the year ; for 
it was just at the changing monsoons. The 
captain was a daring Yankee skipper ; and, with 
every inch of sail which the schooner could 
carry, he drove her like the gale itself over the 
angry Yellow Sea. 

Just before daylight, the men on the port side 
were thrown unceremoniously out of their 
bunks. There was a rush for tlie deck. The 
wind had shifted without warning. The 
schooner had suddenly keeled. Men were cut- 
ting away the mainmast, for she was capsizing. 


ICE-PACK, MONSOON, AND DORY. 133 

Her bows were well under water before the 
strain was relieved, and she emerged, slowly, 
from the sea that had almost ingulfed her. 

She was a sorry-looking sight as she fell off 
before the gale, though the whole transforma- 
tion was the work of less than ten minutes. 
What we saw, too, was far from the worst. 

The captain’s face was grave as he stood by 
the man at the wheel, watching the prow swing- 
ing a hundred feet to the lee at a sweep, then 
settling down into the dragging, seething foam, 
as though it had no energy to rise again. 

The mate came aft, and the captain said : 
“ Man both the pumps, and have the extra 
pumps ready. Set the carpenter to work if he 
can. Get the tarpaulings out, and report ; ” 
but he did not take his eyes from the prow. 

There was something in that weather-beaten 
man that fascinated me, in spite of the storm, 
as he stood there, with fixed eyes and folded 
arms, solely responsible for the lives and cargo 
about him, master of a leaking and disabled 
vessel in the midst of a terrific gale. All was 


134 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

hurry and confusion about him, but he did not 
heed it. There was no shadow of cowardice. 
He was calmly calculating the frail chances of 
life against the overwhelming probabilities of 
death. 

The mate reported that the leak w^as out of 
reach, and that the water was coming in nearly 
eight hundred strokes an hour. 

^^The capacity of the pumps is a thousand 
strokes,” replied the captain. Keep them 
hard at it.” 

All day long the sailors worked at the 
pumps. The captain was everywhere ; reliev- 
ing an exhausted sailor ; working at the ropes ; 
watching the horizon for a sail ; examining the 
water in the hold ; always the same calm, quiet, 
bronzed face, wdthout a trace of anxiety, even, 
except in his Yankee-blue eyes. 

The water rose and rose, in spite of the tar- 
paulings, and in spite of the pumps. The leaks 
were increasing, and the gale did not abate. 

All night long the work went on, and at day- 
light it was the worst of all. Old bronzed sail- 


ICE-PACK, MONSOON, AND DORY. 135 


ors were fairly white ; strong men lay utterly 
exhausted upon the deck, rolling as the vessel 
labored in the heavy seas. Even the schooner 
seemed to have given up the struggle. She 
drove her bows sullenly into the waves, with no 
effort to rise above them. Only the captain 
was unchanged. 

When it was fully light, the captain, naked 
to the waist, appeared among the men at the 
pumjs. ^^Boys,” said he, ‘Hhe water is gain- 
ing on us. If the gale lets up, we may hold 
her till daylight to-morrow. If it keeps on, we 
shall go down with the sun. We are a hun- 
dred miles from shore, making four miles an 
hour. There are two boats left. Those who 
wish can take them now.” 

There was silence for a moment. Even the 
gale whipping through the rigging seemed to 
wait and listen as one poor, haggard fellow, 
who had fallen upon a coil of rope, staggered to 
his deserted post, exclaiming, — 

To the pumps, men ! For life and the cap- 
tain ! Who dares desert the ship ? ” 


136 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

That was enough. The pumps worked away 
as they had not for twelve hours. The wind 
abated more and more. The tarpaulings 
caught ; and two hours later came the cheering 
news that we were gaining on the water. Still, 
for more than twenty hours we worked. 

I have seen the ship that carried me on fire ; 
I have been cast upon the rocks at midnight, in 
a hurricane at the foot of the Red Sea ; but I 
would rather go through both again, than re- 
peat those two days and nights upon the Yellow 
Sea. 

Not a sail appeared ; but we sighted land at 
last, reached the harbor, and ran the schooner 
aground. 

As boats started with the ropes for shore, and 
the sailors burst into a cry of joy, the Yankee 
skipper, who had kept hope and strength in us 
all, pressed his hand over his eyes for an in- 
stant, and then fell senseless to the deck. 

I should think he would have weakened un- 
der such a strain,” commented George. 


The pumps worked as they had not for twelve hou 







ICE-PACK, MONSOON, AND DORY. 139 

But weren’t the sailors brave too ? ” said 
Phil ; and didn’t you all feel relieved when 
you got out of danger ?” 

^‘We did, indeed,” said Uncle Ned. But 
then one always does that you know. I had 
something the same experience another time at 
Gibraltar.” 

What was it? Tell it. Uncle Ned,” cried 
both the boys. And the colonel gave them this 
story of adventure : — 

The British [he said] held Gibraltar ; but 
communication was cut off by a blockade. The 
British fleet was fifty miles away, preparing 
for an attack. Despatches must be sent to 
Gibraltar, and an answer brought back. 

A large sum was offered for the work. My 
captain accepted. I was only a boy, but could 
row better than the best sailor ; so he selected 
me to help. 

We ran down within fifteen miles of Gib- 
raltar, by eight o’clock, on the first dark 
night; then, in a little dory, we two started 


140 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

to make that thirty miles before daylight the 
next morning, or to die in the attempt. 

There was just enough of a breeze to deaden 
the sound of our oars. We went straight as 
a line for Gibraltar. Twice we passed directly 
under the nose of a big ship, but no one 
thought of looking for a bit^of a cork with 
two men in it. 

We were at the wharf but seventeen min- 
utes, and spent the time in drinking coffee 
and running up and down. At eight minutes 
before eleven, just two hours and fifty-two 
minutes from the start, we dipped our oars 
to return. 

All • that had favored our getting in was 
against our getting out again. Even the wind 
had risen, and the sea with it. There was a 
storm coming up; and, even if we could keep 
the dory afloat, the lightning, before long, 
would show us up. 

The captain sat in the prow, with the com- 
pass in his lap. It was only opened a hair’s 
breadth, to hide the light ; and he was at 


ICE-PACK, MONSOOK, AND DORY. 141 

the same time pushing on his oars that he 
might keep a lookout for the enemy’s ships. 

Three times we dodged them ; and once a 
voice hailed us in the darkness, but we could 
not understand what was said, and did not stop. 

I had rowed over those waves, that were 
rising higher and higher, till I was ready to 
drop the oars and let the dory go where it 
would. The captain looked at his watch by 
the compass light, and reported half-past one. 

I groaned as 1 replied that I must take a 
rest or I could never pull through the re- 
maining hour. 

Just at that moment there was a blinding 
flash of lightning. 

The captain and I both uttered an exclama- 
tion of dismay. 

There was a big ship not a hundred feet 
away on one side; and on the other side a 
boat with half a dozen men in it! 

Three more flashes followed in quick suc- 
cession. They had sighted us, and were bear- 
ing down upon us with sail and oar. 


142 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

If the lightning holds np, they may lose 
us/’ whispered the captain. “ There are the 
despatches, wrapped in lead. Throw them 
overboard before you give up. Pull for all 
you’re worth, now; and, if there’s another flash. 
I’ll give them a broadside from this rifle.” ‘ 

I ground my teeth. The oars bent and the 
rowlocks creaked. 

Hark ! a voice 1 Captain Beer, ahoy ! ” 
The rifle dropped. My oars flew out of the 
water. 

It was the voice of our second officer. Fear- 
ing the weather would be too much for us, 
our people had taken our points and run six 
miles nearer. It was a dangerous risk ; but 
so well had we both of us kept our lines, 
through that darkness and storm, that we 
came within a hundred feet of colliding. 

Whew ! but that must have been a relief ! ” 
cried Phil ; and George, all excitement, echoed 
the Whew ! ” with satisfaction. 


A TIGER AND A KIDNAPPER. 143 


CHAPTER III. 

A TIGER, A DRAGON, A PIRATE, AND A KID- 
NAPPER. 



NCE again Phil and George were in the 


A/ colonel’s library ; and once again they be- 
sieged him for stories. 

Have you ever had any adventures with 
wild animals. Uncle Ned ? ” asked George. 

Yes,” replied the colonel, I have had 
several such ; but never one that is a more 
vivid memory than the day I felt the tiger’s 
breath.” 

My, though, but that sounds interesting ! ” 
cried Phil. How was it. Uncle Ned ? ” 

And, as ready to tell as were the boys to 
listen, the colonel gave them the story : — 

The natives of India [he said] have a prov- 


144 COLONEL THOENDIKE’s ADVENTURES. 

erb that one is never a safe hunter until he 
has felt a tiger’s breath. 

I was young in India. I had ventured upon 
a few tiger hunts, but with fear and trembling. 

It was an autumn afternoon, nearing night. 
With a friend, who was an old hunter, I was 
making a journey through the forests, below 
the Himalayas, just above the Terai. 

We were mounted on elephants. Conversa- 
tion was difficult, and I was half asleep in 
my howdah when roused by a shout from 
my friend. At the same moment my ele- 
phant made an ungainly lurch that almost 
upset me, and a large tiger came gliding 
through the air, landing upon the elephant’s 
haunch, his great claws buried deep in the 
tough hide. 

All this in an instant. I confess I was 
thoroughly bewildered, if not thoroughly fright- 
ened. 

Steady, my boy!” cried my friend. He’ll 
stop there for an instant, and then climb up. 
Kill him, or you’re gone 1 ” 


A TIGER AND A KIDNAPPER. 


145 


This was consoling ; and, with scarcely 
strength to hold my rifle at all, I fired. He 
responded with a terrific yelp. 

The elephant suddenly swung himself about. 

It was a trick of his trade to dislodge a 
wounded tiger, and prevent his doing mischief. 
It served the purpose well. The tiger went 
rolling over in the grass. I was not used to 
that mode of warfare, however, and came as 
near as the very edge of the howdah to follow- 
ing him. 

I sprang to my feet. So did the tiger; and 
at the same instant made another leap for the 
elephant, to land as before. 

I caught up my second rifle, and rested it up- 
on the edge of the howdah. 

Give it to him ! ” shouted my friend. I 
heard him, but was absolutely unable to pull 
the trigger. 

Inch by inch the tiger drew himself upward, 
while the elephant shrieked, and ran so fast 
that my friend could not overtake me. 

I stood there, utterly helpless, looking down 


146 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

at that blood-red tongue, dripping and foaming ; 
at the savage teeth, glistening and white ; into 
that purple gullet, out of which the breath came 
wheezing and gratingd 

At last an advancing paw rested on the base 
of the howdah. I heard my friend calling, and 
reali:^d my danger; but I was literally be- 
numbed, and could not move. 

I am sure that I should have stood there and 
let him do as he would with me, but for an act 
of folly on his part, which saved my life. 

The muzzle of my rifle was in his way. He 
caught it in his angry jaws. In the start which 
it gave me, my fingers instinctively clutched, 
and the one resting on the trigger could not 
help pulling it. The ball went crashing 
through the tiger’s brain. 

Many a time I have faced a tiger, at close 
quarters, since then ; but never again did I feel 
a sentiment of fear, beyond precaution and self- 
preservation. I cannot account for it, but 
many a hunter has experienced the same. 


1 See frontispiece. 


A TIGER AND A KIDNAPRER. 


147 


This time it was Phil’s breath that came 
quick with excitement : Gracious, though ! 

what a narrow escape!” he said. 

Wasn’t it?” echoed George; and their 
uncle added with a laugh, W ell, it was close 
enough ; and yet, serious as it was, it some- 
how made me think of my boy, ‘ Run-for- 
your-life,’ and the dragon of the China Sea.” 

A dragon ! I thought there were no such 
animals,” exclaimed Phil. 

Well, this seemed a very real one for ^Run- 
for-your-life,’ even though he could not see it.” 

And, smiling at there collection of the adven- 
ture, the colonel told the boys this story : — 

Scarce a Chinese junk ever sails the sea with- 
out more or less of a dragon for its figure-head. 
Sometimes it is only a block of wood, but it 
is a dragon all the same. And every dragon 
has at least one eye. It takes a rogue to catch 
a rogue ; and the cause of these figure-head 
dragons is a firm belief in a real, live dragon, 
that lurks deep down in the China Sea. 


148 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

The greater part of Chinese theology and 
philosophy is made up of dragons. There are 
dragons in everything; and a Chinaman’s life is 
chiefly spent in either conciliating or frighten- 
ing dragons, or guarding against them. 

I was crossing the China Sea with my native 
servant, pig-tailed Taosen. The name means, 

Run-for-life,” and Taosen lived up to it. 

He was very much opposed to the vessel I 
selected, because it had no dragon at the prow, 
and no eye. 

No got eye, how can see ? No can see, how 
go sailee ? Me no likee ! ” he muttered. 

Then, as ill-luck w^ould have it, a roaring 
storm set in. 

Taosen knew all about it ; he was certain that 
it would be the end of us ; and aside from all 
dragons and philosophy, it did seem more than 
probable that he was correct. 

If he had been out of my reach, and beyond 
the danger of interruption, he would have beat 
gongs, rattled pans, fired crackers — anything 
to make a noise. He would have wailed and 


A TIGER AND A KIDNAPPER. 


149 


howled to try to frighten the dragon, who was 
rolling about beneath us. If that did not work, 
he would have killed a white rooster, if he 
could have found one, sprinkled its blood on the 
water, and nailed its head and some of its 
feathers to the mast. Many a storm-beaten 
junk comes into port with that talisman con- 
spicuously displayed. Next he would have 
thrown rice into the sea, thinking the dragon 
might be hungry. After that, he would have 
tried a little wine, to see if he were thirsty. 
Then he would have tried to frighten him 
again, and kept it up till the junk went down 
under him — when, if he lived, he would have 
said that the dragon was too angry to be ap- 
peased — or until the storm abated, when he 
would have had stronger faith than ever in 
the grand Chinese system of philosophy and 
theology. 

Taosen knew very well that for any such an- 
tics he would have his pig-tail smartly pulled, 
be shaken out of his thick-soled shoes, or 
dumped into a tub of water by some of the Eng- 


150 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

lish sailors ; and his fear of the angry dragon 
was not so intense as his desire to keep himself 
and his cue out of the tub. 

Something must be done, however ; for, 
though he was Taosen, he could not run for his 
life when there was no place to run to ; and he 
proceeded to do the most inoffensive thing pos- 
sible to appease the dragon : that is, to burn 
joss-papers.” 

Joss means ^^a god” or dragon — any god 
and every god that the Chinese recognize ; and 
joss-papers are little sheets of paper so prepared 
as to ignite easily and burn quickly. Some- 
times they are plain prepared tissue paper. 
Sometimes they are gilt and silver sheets, cov- 
ered with a wash of powder to help them burn. 
Some have pictures of special dragons for which 
they are intended, and some are all covered 
with printed prayers. 

Taosen had no very fine joss-papers ; for he 
was a poor boy, and could not afford them. 
Such as he had, however, he burned ; but the 
cranky dragon down below was apparently not 


A TIGER AND A KIDNAPPER. 


151 


satisfied, for the wind roared, and the sea rolled 
more fiercely than ever. 

My dog Tag was with me. Tag was always 
with me. He was not a handsome dog, but I 
loved him and he loved me. He was never 
with Taosen, for he and Taosen never got on 
very well together; so when I missed Tag, 
the last place I thought of looking for him was 
where Taosen and a Celestial friend were burn- 
ing joss-papers out upon the deck. Tag must 
be found, however; and at last I found him. 
Taosen was on one side, burning joss-papers; 
his friend was on the other, burning joss-papers ; 
and in the middle was Tag, howling in shrillest 
falsetto, as if to sing down the storm. 

He was a real Chinese dog, that little Tag of 
mine; and though he hated Taosen, and Taosen 
hated him, the storm had reached a point where 
something must be done, and they had joined 
forces. They proved too much for the dragon 
of the China Sea. He subsided as quickly as 
possible ; but the exigencies of that hour left 
Tag and Taosen ever the very best of friends. 


152 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

The boys laughed heartily over the dragon 
story, and George inquired, — 

Aren’t they funny crafts, those Chinese 
junks. Uncle Ned?” 

Funny ? yes,” replied the colonel. And 
yet not so very funny if one of them happens 
to be a pirate and after you.” 

Why, were you ever in such a fix ? ” Phil 
demanded. 

Worse yet,” said his uncle. ^^I’ve been 
the fellow on board the pirate junk, and been 
chased by a man-of-war.” 

Oh, grand ! ” cried George ; and tell us 
about it,” said Phil. 

Which the colonel did, as follows : — 

It was a beautiful moonlight night on the 
great Blue Biver. A reckless adventure at 
Nankin had left me in a box; a veritable box 
indeed, for it was well fastened on all sides, 
and stood upon the deck of a Chinese junk, 
manned by pirates, and dashing under full 
sail down the Blue River. 


A TIGER AND A KIDNAPPER. 


153 


My native servant, Master Taosen, had dis- 
appeared when I got into trouble, as what 
Chinese servant would not ? I had not seen 
him since. Indeed, I had not seen anything 
but a ray of moonlight coming through a 
crack in my box. 

Suddenly a sail dropped ; and from what 
was said, I inferred that we had overhauled 
a silk junk and proposed to ^^take her in.” 

A little later a wild yell arose, at no great 
distance ; then there was shouting and clash- 
ing, and an occasional report of some uncer- 
tain firearms, marking the progress of the 
work. Then all was still, and the deed was 
evidently done. 

The work of hoisting the sails began, but 
the large sail would not move. They tried 
the smaller sail. The rope broke in the up- 
per rigging. The captain was furious. Men 
were sent aloft, where I judged, from what 
I heard, that they found things strangely 
tangled. 

It was half an hour before they again 


154 COLONEL thokndike’s adventukes. 

began to hoist the large sail, just as a man- 
darin junk appeared in the distance. 

There was almost a gale blowing down the 
river; and as the great sail filled, I could feel 
the strain as the junk started. Then there 
was a sudden lurch. The ropes which held 
the lower corners parted, and the great sail 
floated like flag. 

It was growing interesting. Evidently the 
mandarin junk was bearing down upon us 
rapidly. I struggled to see something through 
the crack, but could only obtain a view of the 
man at the helm, holding the long wooden 
arm with which the rudder of a junk is 
turned. 

The moon shone full upon his face. I 
started, stared, shut my eyes for an instant, 
then looked again. He was bare to the waist, 
with a rough, bagging skirt, held by a rope 
girdle. The disguise was complete ; but the 
face ! Could I mistake it ? As sure as fate, 
it was my servant. Master Taosen. 

How came he there? Was it through his 


could only see the man at the helm 



x. AT 


V 


r 




If- 










A TIGER AND A KIDNAPPER. 


157 


treachery that I was in the box, or through 
his loyalty that the rigging was demoralized ? 
He seemed to understand his business at that 
helm. 

The mandarin junk was within hailing dis- 
tance when the last rope was repaired. 

I heard her captain order us to stop. I 
heard our captain laugh as the sail began to 
draw and he replied that he was in haste. 

The junk quickly responded to the sail, 
and began to move; then Taosen grasped the 
helm arm, braced his bare feet, and back, 
back, back, carried it to the rail, over it, and, 
leaning out over the water, stood tugging 
with might and main, his feet braced against 
the stern. 

The junk yielded, swung about, and lost 
both wind and current before the captain 
realized what had happened, and sprang for 
the helm. 

Taosen dropped it, and, with a yell, went 
head-first into the water. His work was done. 
I could not see, but I could hear, as the Gov- 


158 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

eminent soldiers boarded the junk and carried 
on the usual work with pirates — death with- 
out quarter. 

When the noise subsided, there was a thump 
on the side of my prison-box, and the voice 
of that blessed Master Taosen sounded, speak- 
ing in pigeon English, which he was very fond 
of using when addressing me. 

All lightee you, master ? you no die ? 
Gottee fuslate lifee. Maskee ! My talkee Tao- 
sen, you welly luck boy. Evlybody lookee 
fightee. My go workee evly where. All mickis 
up. Sail he no go up, no come down. All 
lightee now. Come on.” 

What a funny fellow he must have been 
— that Taosen,” said Phil, laughing over the 
Chinaman’s escapade and pigeon English. 

Good fellow too.” 

Yes ; better than the coolie to whom I 
once trusted myself in China,” remarked the 
colonel. By the way, it was just after the 
pirate adventure. Want to hear it?” 


A TIGER AND A KIDNAPPER. 


159 


Oh, don’t we, though ! ” exclaimed the 
boys ; and the colonel proceeded to tell them 
of this adventure at the tomb of the Mings : — 

The mandarin junk upon which I was sail- 
ing down the Blue River of China lay, for the 
day, at the wharf of Nankin. 

I left it early for an inspection of the an- 
cient capital. In the afternoon I took the com- 
mon wheelbarrow conveyance, to visit the 
tombs of the Mings. The coolie who trundled 
it said he could take me there and back by 
sundown. 

A thunderstorm delayed us; and the sun 
went down while we were among the hills, 
two miles, at least, from the city. 

The coolie insisted upon my stopping at 
one more ruin, in a grove just off the road. 
It was so dark that I could not have seen it 
at the best, and I told him to hurry back to the 
city. It is hard, however, to convince a Chinese 
coolie of anything; and I was not surprised 
when he turned deliberately toward the ruin. 


160 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

It was almost dark in the grove ; and as we 
approached the indistinct masses of masonry 
they gave me a very strong suggestion of all 
sorts of ghosts and goblins. 

Suddenly the coolie began to run. If he 
had been going the other way, I should have 
thought he was frightened. Before I had time 
to think, however, the barrow was tipped 
sharply to one side, and I was floundering in 
the tangled undergrowth. 

As I sprang to my feet, every rock and 
shrub about me seemed alive. 

Out of the very ground men seemed to rise. 
I thought there were at least a hundred. Prob- 
ably a dozen would be nearer right. 

It would have been folly to struggle ; yet I 
was upon the point of at least entering a 
vigorous protest, when my arms were uncere- 
moniously caught in a noose and securely 
bound, my feet were tied, a cloth was bound 
over my face, and I was laid upon my back 
in some sort of a box. 

It was all done so quickly, that when it 


A TIGER AND A KIDNAPPER. 


161 


was over I could still feel upon my hands the 
imprint of the branch which I had caught 
when falling out of the wheelbarrow. 

Not a word had been spoken ; but I knew 
by the motion that I must be in some sort 
of a palanquin, and was being carried some- 
where. I wondered where. 

The air was stifling. It was rank with 
opium. Some of the fellows must have been 
smoking there while waiting for me. 

Between the cloth over my face and the 
opium fumes, which were all the air I could 
secure, I was suffocating. I shouted, but it 
did no good ; the steady, silent swing kept 
on. Evidently the fellows knew what they 
were doing, but did not propose to tell me. 

The scene changed, and changed again, and 
yet it did not change at all. A thousand 
different things seemed going on about me ; 
then there was nothing at all going on, and 
I was very comfortable and very sleepy. 

I shut my eyes for a short nap. When I 
opened them again I was in bed in my gaudy 


162 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

little stateroom upon tlie mandarin junk, miles 
away from Nankin, on the great Blue River. 

How came I there ? Two men had brought 
me down to the wharf in a palanquin. 

They said they came from an opium den; 
and the officers of my escort, thinking I had 
yielded to a very popular weakness among 
themselves, paid the fellows well for having 
saved them the necessity of hunting me up. 

My watch was gone ; so were my money, my 
pocket-knife, my handkerchief even. Every- 
thing I had about me that could be of service 
even to a Chinaman had disappeared. 

They had put me to sleep by burning an 
opium rope in that closed palanquin. 

It was the gentlest, most complete and cour- 
teous highway robbery that I ever heard of. 


A PREFECT, MULE, AND ELEPHANT. 163 


CHAPTER IV. 

A PREFECT, A MULE, AND A ROGUE ELEPHANT. 

rPHE visit of the boys at their uncle’s house 
was nearly over. But their desire for 
stories was by no means satisfied. It did 
seem, they declared, as if no one had ever 
had so many wonderful adventures as Uncle 
Ned. 

The day before they left his house, Phil 
and George invaded the library and begged 
for just a few more stories; and the colonel, 
nothing loath to please the boys, complied. 

I was telling you about Chinese pirates and 
robbers, the other day,” he said. Here is a 
story about a Chinese official, with whom I had 
some dealings. It will give you a good idea of 
the Chinese character, when positions of power 
afford opportunity for injustice.” And the col- 


164 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

onel gave the boys this story of how he over- 
came a Chinese prefect or high magistrate : — 

I was once, upon official business, crossing the 
south of China under Government escort. This 
demanded that the prefects of the various places 
where I stopped should provide food and lodg- 
ing as they were required. Some were over- 
zealous in their hospitality. One fellow, how- 
ever, proposed to have me spend the night at 
the public tavern of his town. 

The name of the inn was Celestial Happi- 
ness.” The oily landlord bowed me up to the 
state chamber. It was directly over the 
kitchen, so that it should always be warm. It 
had one window of oiled paper, covered with 
dust. The heat was insufferable ; and with it, 
through great cracks in the floor, visible effects 
of frying came up from the kitchen below. 
Small lodgers moved fearlessly over the walls 
and floor. Mosquitoes began a grand concert 
the moment I entered. 

Who sent me here ? ” I demanded. 


A PREFECT, MULE, AND ELEPHANT. 1G5 

The prefect,’^ with a very low bow. 

Does he expect me to stay here ?” 

How can I tell ? I am not the prefect ; 
but you shall be made perfectly happy.” 

I reached the door before the bearers and 
escort had left ; and, entering the palanquin, 
ordered a quick move to the prefect’s residence. 

He was enjoying a quiet smoke, and a cup of 
hot wine and melon seeds with a few friends, 
when I was announced. 

He intended to take from the treasury the 
amount allowed for entertaining official travel- 
lers, and, less what little the inn-keeper charged, 
to put it into his own pocket. 

I knew that he would send me word that he 
was not in ; so I entered the gate the moment 
the servant opened it, and followed him as far 
as the pavilion, just outside the room where the 
prefect was sitting with his friends. 

Foolish fellow ! ” he exclaimed to the ser- 
vant. The Chinaman always shouts when he is 
excited. Why did you not say I was not at 
home ? ” 


166 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

T did,” the poor fellow pleaded ; but he 
walked across the court, sat down in the pavil- 
ion, and told me to bring him some tea while 
he waited for you.” 

Go again ! Tell him I am out of town ! ” 

How can he believe it, when he has heard 
you speak ? ” asked one of the guests. 

The next moment the portly prefect stood in 
the pavilion, greeting me with all the politeness 
written in the great Book of Rites. He thanked 
me for the honor of the call, hoped my quarters 
at the inn would be very comfortable, promised to 
call in the morning, and wished me good-night. 

I ventured to suggest that the inn was not fit 
for a dog, and that I did not propose to stop 
there. He seemed greatly disturbed, and as- 
sured me that, as it was late, if I would try and 
put up with the discomfort for the night, he 
would see that I was sent to another inn in the 
morning. 

I don’t believe there was another tavern in 
the town ; and the rascal knew I was going on 
in the morning. 


A PREFECT, MULE, AND ELEPHANT. 167 

I was not very sure of my ground, but I de- 
termined upon a bold stroke. I quietly in- 
formed him that, in reality, I had come, bag 
and baggage, to spend the night with him ; and, 
that as I was hungry, I should be pleased to 
have supper served at once. 

I do not know what he might not have done, 
but fortunately he took it as a good joke upon 
himself. He smiled, and invited me into the 
room where his guests were enjoying life. Hot 
water and towels were produced. Tea followed, 
and shortly a very acceptable supper was smok- 
ing on a low table before me ; beginning with 
sweetmeats, as usual, and ending with soup. 

The experiment succeeded ; but I should be 
very reluctant to try it many times in such a 
doubtful locality as the Celestial Kingdom. 

That was a joke on the Chinaman, wasn’t 
it though ? ” laughed Phil. 

You regularly turned the tables on him, 
Uncle Ned,” said George. 

Y^es,” replied his uncle, I rather think I 


168 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

did. I came very nearly to being a match for 
Calderwood’s mule.” 

What was Calderwood’s mule ? ” queried 
George. 

“ A white mule that nearly got me cornered 
by Bedouins once, on the shores of the Dead 
Sea,” the colonel replied. 

Oh, that sounds fine ! ” exclaimed George. 

Tell us the story. Uncle Ned.” And the col- 
onel did, as follows : — 

One midnight we left the hovels of Jericho 
behind us for a canter of twelve miles over the 
Syrian desert, to the shores of the Dead Sea. 

We were on our way to Persia, and as neither 
of us had seen the famous salt lake, we devoted 
one night to it, in passing Jericho ; though it 
was quite out of the season when travellers 
wander about Syria, and quite in the season 
when Bedouins are to be found encamped on 
the shores of the Dead Sea, making salt for the 
coming year. 

Calderwood was mounted upon his great 


A PREFECT, MULE, AND ELEPHANT. 169 

white mule; I upon my black mare. We were 
accompanied by two Syrian guides, and an imi- 
tation Turkish soldier, in deference to the law 
obliging us to have a military escort. 

Leaving the plateau, upon which both old and 
new J ericho were built, we crept down the steep 
hill, through the olive grove, and cantered out 
upon the broad ocean of sand that sinks grad- 
ually toward the Dead Sea, so much lower than 
the Mediterranean. 

It was a series of low sand-hills ; and as we 
approached the sea from the summits of the 
great drifts, we could see fires burning upon our 
right, where the Bedouins were making salt 
upon the shore. 

Our brave Turkish soldier showed signs of 
the better part of valor, and the guides were 
far from anxious to meet the salt-makers from 
beyond the Jordan. They assured us that the 
Dead Sea was nothing to see, after all, and sug- 
gested turning back. 

Calderwood bluntly declined their advice ; 
but the fellows deliberately fell behind, and 


170 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

the last quarter of a mile we two rode on 
alone. 

Calderwood was a royal good fellow. I do 
not think he ever knew what fear meant. As 
soon as we reached the water, he dismounted 
and began undressing for a bath. 

My horse was not so sure to remain where 
she was left as the mule ; so I still sat in the 
saddle, waiting for the guides to come and hold 
her, when suddenly there was a flash of fire- 
arms, followed by a sharp report, and a hubbub 
of voices, above which rang the frantic yell of 
our Turkish soldier : Run for your lives ! 
Run for your lives ! ” 

A moment later, there was the sound of a 
multitude of feet running over the sand ; and 
the jumble of voices showed that the Bedouins 
knew our position, and were rapidly approach- 
ing us. 

They sound like too many for us in the 
dark; I suppose we shall have to move on,” 
said Calderwood ; and, catching his coat from 
the sand, he made for the white mule. In at- 


A TREFECT, MULE, AND ELEPHANT. 171 

tempting to mount, he broke the stirrup strap 
close to the saddle, and fell heavily upon his 
back. 

Quickly dismounting, I caught the saddle and 
held it while Calderwood clambered up on the 
other side. He was a poor horseman at the best, 
however, and once mounted, sat helplessly cling- 
ing to the broad, flat saddle of the Syrian mule. 

The Bedouins were close upon us, and the 
white mule was constitutionally slow to take a 
gentle hint. Something must start the creature 
instantly; and catching up the broken stirrup 
by the strap, I swung it round my head and 
brought the heavy foot-piece down with a bang 
upon the white haunch. Just in time, I dodged 
a pair of hoofs as they flew into the air, and 
gaining my equilibrium, had the satisfaction of 
seeing the white shadow disappearing in the 
darkness toward Jericho. 

Turning quickly to my own horse, I was 
about to mount, when a volley was fired by the 
approaching Bedouins ; and the animal fell 
floundering in the sand. 


172 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

Here was a decided predicament. The East 
Jordan Bedouins are the most unscrupulous rob- 
bers of the desert ; and to defend myself against 
no one knew how many of them, I had only my 
small revolver. 

The shots were fired from less than fifty feet 
away, and aiming as well as I could in the total 
darkness, I fired three times in quick succession. 

There was an unearthly yell, followed by a 
dead silence. For a moment, at least, they were 
waiting. In that moment my horse struggled 
to her feet, and seeing that at least she was not 
dead, I thrust my revolver into my belt, sprang 
into the saddle, and drove the spurs into the 
black sides beneath me, determined to make the 
most of whatever life remained. 

She started up the sand-hill like the wind ; 
and for the first time, I noticed that I still held 
Calderwood’s stirrup in my hand. I was in the 
act of throwing it away, when I suddenly came 
upon the white mule, standing stock still, with 
Calderwood still clinging to the big saddle. 

“ Go on ! ” I whispered eagerly. 


A PREFECT, MULE, AND ELEPHANT. 173 

‘‘ Can’t,” muttered Calderwood. 

Why not ? ” I asked. 

This everlasting ghost won’t stir a step 
either way,” he replied. 

We’ll see,” I whispered, thanking fortune 
that I still had the stirrup. Again it flew 
round my head, and came down with a whack 
on the mule, at the very instant that we again 
heard that ominous rattle in the sand, close be- 
hind us. 

Yes ; he moved. He moved so decidedly, that 
he threw Calderwood clear off the saddle ; but 
my friend, still clung on the creature’s neck, 
and worked his way back again, as we flew 
over the sand. 

Close behind, I followed the white mule, con- 
stantly encouraging him with blows from the 
stirrup, till we reached the steep hill that 
brought us to the open plain of Jericho. 

On the way, I realized that something was 
very wrong with my left leg ; but it was not till 
we were safe in the tent that I discovered sev- 
enteen large shot, buried in the flesh, between 


174 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

nay knee and ankle. Fortunately, I wore high 
boots ; and the heavy leather prevented the shot 
from going deep enough to do any great 
damage. 

My mare, too, was more frightened than hurt ; 
for examination showed only a slight flesh 
wound, just behind the saddle. Her lower lip, 
however, was terribly swollen and bleeding. I 
could not account for it, till Calderwood ex- 
plained that every time I struck the mule, the 
creature kicked, and my poor horse must have 
borne the brunt of it. 

When all w^as over, and with bandages and 
lotions we were nearly as comfortable as pos- 
sible, we had a good laugh over our adventure; 
but we quietly resolved not to try the Dead Sea 
again at that season, unless we went prepared 
for it. 

Well, that was rough on the horse, wasn’t 
it ? ” said Phil ; why is it that a mule is so 
stubborn just at the wrong time?” 

Other animals besides mules are, Phil,” 


A PREFECT, MULE, AND ELEPHANT. 175 

laughed his uncle. I have even known some 
men almost as obstinate. Now take, for exam- 
ple, the superstitious man. He is always obsti- 
nate. I remember, when I wasn’t much older 
than you boys, an adventure in which the obsti- 
nacy of superstition was the death of a raft- 
full of men, and almost cut off my brief career. 
It was the time I was treed by a rogue ele- 
phant. But I have told you that, haven’t I ? ” 
Treed by an elephant ? Oh, no, no ! you 
haven’t,” cried both boys. Do tell us, 
please.” 

Well, this is the last,” the colonel said. 

It’s time you boys were abed, if you expect to 
get up in time for your train to-morrow.” 

And he ended his list of stories with this : — 

Years ago, when scarcely more than a boy, I 
was drifting down the great river of Ceylon, 
upon a raft guided by a dozen natives. 

The forests of the interior of Ceylon are 
wonderful. The sluggish rivers meandering 
through them have to fight for a place for 


176 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

themselves. The trees absolutely grow out into 
the water. 

I was not in a state, however, to admire the 
beauties of that trip, for I had met with an ac- 
cident that prevented my going on with a 
party that was penetrating the forest. I was 
being sent back to the coast, and was stretched 
out upon that raft, as the easiest and safest con- 
veyance homeward. 

My immediate servant, nurse, and protector, 
was a great, stalwart African — a Zedee, named 
Mobarak. With the other natives, I had very 
little to do, for Mobarak would not let one of 
them come near me. 

Nothing would induce those superstitious 
boatmen to move an inch after dark. They 
would go on shore and prepare the supper; 
then they would push out into the stream, moor 
the raft, and go to sleep. 

The most eventful night of this trip, and the 
one that I remember best, was a perfect one. I 
could not sleep ; but lay watching the full moon, 
as it rose slowly out of the black jungle, and 


The African opened his eyes directly upon the approaching elephant. 






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A PREFECT, MULE, AND ELEPHANT. 179 

sent a line of silver across the dark water, till 
it seemed to touch the raft. 

The tropical forest is full of noises at night ; 
but the native is accustomed to them, and sleeps 
soundly. I could distinguish the heavy breath- 
ing of every man about me, when suddenly a 
shrill note sounded, far away in the opposite 
forest. 

I knew that it was made by an elephant ; 
and soon I heard the branches crackling, and 
the cry repeated, as the ponderous body ap- 
proached the stream. A moment later, a huge, 
dusky form was just visible in the moonlight, 
between the trees ; its fore-feet were in the 
water, its trunk erect ; the beast was evidently 
in a state of great excitement. 

I did not then know as much about elephants 
as I did before I had got through with them ; 
but, supposing this one had simply come down 
to the water to drink, I lay watching the mon- 
ster with the same curiosity with which I had 
watched animals at a menagerie. 

The big fellow evidently saw the raft, for he 


180 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

tore up a young tree by the roots, waved it 
over his head, and stepped farther into the 
water, facing directly toward us. 

Being a little doubtful as to what he might 
intend, I poked Mobarak, who slept beside my 
mat. Fortunately the huge African opened his 
sleepy eyes directly upon the approaching ele- 
phant. 

He was a devout Mohammedan ; and as the 
name of Allah escaped his lips, he sprang to 
his feet, caught me in his arms, leaped into the 
water, which , was not above his shoulders, and 
with bound after bound gained the shore. He 
ran to a large tree with spreading branches, and 
pushing me up toward them as far as he could, 
he said eagerly, — 

Hold on there, master, till I climb and help 
you.” 

It is only an elephant,” I said in some dis- 
gust, as well as bodily pain caused by the sud- 
den flight. 

A rogue elephant ! ” muttered Mobarak. 

What’s a rogue elephant ? ” I asked. 


A PREFECT, MULE, AND ELEPHANT. 181 

He was captured once, and has escaped ; or 
else he’s been driven away from his mate.” 

“ W ell, what of it ; what harm would he 
do ? ” I asked ? but, before Mobarak could an- 
swer, I knew. There was a crashing and splash- 
ing in the water ; cry after cry came from the 
boatmen ; while from our outlook we could 
clearly distinguish the furious animal, lashing 
the water into foam with his trunk, catching 
one after another of the boatmen as they strug- 
gled to escape him, lifting them as high in the 
air as he could, and dashing them down into 
the water again. 

Mobarak sat upon the limb beside me, 
watching the frightful scene with a broad 
smile upon his black face. His white teeth 
glistened in the moonlight. 

They are all killed,” I exclaimed. “ AYhy 
did you not wake them up ? ” 

It was written in their foreheads that they 
should die. It was not on burs.” 

^^If we had remained there, we should be 
dead,” I replied. 


182 COLONEL Thorndike’s adventures. 

^^But we did not remain,” said Mobarak, 
with a philosophy so simple, but so profound, 
that it is even yet baffling the whole world 
to understand it. 

The elephant kept at his work till the last 
vestige of the raft and the last boatman had 
disappeared. Then he came slowly out of 
the water, sniffed the air, looked about him, 
shook himself, and came straight to the tree 
where we were hiding. 

Several times he walked about it ; then he 
placed his forehead against the trunk, and 
began to push. It was a large, strong tree, 
but it shook and trembled while he pushed ; 
and only the contented grin which still lin- 
gered on Mobarak’ s face kept me from being 
thoroughly frightened. 

The elephant gave up in time ; but it was 
growing light before he wandered off into the 
forest, and left us to hail a passing boat. 

It was an absurd thing to think of, but 
all that night I kept recalling a conundrum 
given to me once by a schoolmate : Why is an 


A PREFECT, MULE, AND ELEPHANT. 183 

elephant like a wheelbarrow?” And the an- 
swer was : “ Because neither of them can climb 
a tree.” 

^^And now climb to bed, boys,” said the 
colonel ; and don’t wake up to see rogue 
elephants, either. Good-night. You are ex- 
cellent listeners, and I like to tell stories to 
boys who know how to listen.” 

As , if anyone couldn’t listen to your 
stories. Uncle Ned,” exclaimed George. ^AYhy, 
I could listen to them all night; couldn’t you, 
Phil ? ” 

Phil enthusiastically answered that he could. 
And I really think that the boys were right ; 
for the colonel’s adventures were certainly very 
attractive. 

















